Abstract:
In this paper, we enable interactive volumetric global illumination by
extending photon mapping techniques to handle interactive transfer function
(TF) and material editing in the context of volume rendering. We propose
novel algorithms and data structures for finding and evaluating parts of a
scene affected by these parameter changes, and thus support efficient updates
of the photon map. In direct volume rendering (DVR) the ability to explore
volume data using parameter changes, such as editable TFs, is of key
importance. Advanced global illumination techniques are in most cases
computationally too expensive, as they prevent the desired interactivity. Our
technique decreases the amount of computation caused by parameter changes, by
introducing Historygrams which allow us to efficiently reuse previously
computed photon media interactions. Along the viewing rays, we utilize
properties of the light transport equations to subdivide a view-ray into
segments and independently update them when invalid. Unlike segments of a
view-ray, photon scattering events within the volumetric medium needs to be
sequentially updated. Using our Historygram approach, we can identify the
first invalid photon interaction caused by a property change, and thus reuse
all valid photon interactions. Combining these two novel concepts, supports
interactive editing of parameters when using volumetric photon mapping in the
context of DVR. As a consequence, we can handle arbitrarily shaped and
positioned light sources, arbitrary phase functions, bidirectional
reflectance distribution functions and multiple scattering which has
previously not been possible in interactive DVR.