PROGRESSIVE NULL TRACKING FOR VOLUMETRIC RENDERING

Number: 20250182382
Published: 2025-06-05
Filed: 2023-12-04
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: LI; Yining Karl et al.
CPC: G06T15/506; G06T15/06; G06T15/08
Verdict: Low Notable software
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Volumetric-rendering tracking technique (companion patent).

Abstract

The present invention sets forth a technique for rendering a volumetric medium. The technique includes generating, in a first rendering pass, a first set of pixel values associated with rendering the volumetric medium using a first upper bound on a density of the volumetric medium. The technique also includes generating, in a second rendering pass, a second set of pixel values associated with rendering the volumetric medium using a second upper bound on the density of the volumetric medium, wherein the second upper bound is different from the first upper bound. The technique further includes generating a rendering of the volumetric medium based on the first set of pixel values and the second set of pixel values.

Background

BACKGROUND Field of the Various Embodiments

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to volumetric rendering and, more specifically, to progressive null tracking for volumetric rendering. Description of the Related Art

Volumetric rendering refers to the process of generating images that depict the propagation of light within a three-dimensional (3D) volumetric medium occupied by a certain type of material or object. For example, volumetric rendering techniques can be used to simulate the interaction of light with fog, smoke, water, clouds, plasma, biological tissue, and/or another medium that can vary in density. These volumetric rendering techniques typically involve propagating rays of light into the volumetric medium and estimating the way in which the light is transmitted, scattered, emitted, and/or absorbed within the medium.

Certain state-of-the-art techniques for performing volumetric rendering, which are referred to as null-collision approaches, determine absorption, emission, scattering, and/or other interactions between light and matter using predefined upper bounds (which can also be referred to as “majorants” or “bounding extinctions”) on the density of the volumetric media at various points or regions in the 3D volume. However, in studio and production settings, volumetric media are frequently defined in a procedural manner using “black box” mathematical functions, physical simulations, artistic workflows, and/or other external

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for rendering a volumetric medium, the method comprising: generating, in a first rendering pass, a first set of pixel values associated with rendering the volumetric medium using a first upper bound on a density of the volumetric medium; generating, in a second rendering pass, a second set of pixel values associated with rendering the volumetric medium using a second upper bound on the density of the volumetric medium, wherein the second upper bound is different from the first upper bound; and generating a rendering of the volumetric medium based on the first set of pixel values and the second set of pixel values. || 11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of: generating, in a first rendering pass, a first set of pixel values associated with rendering a volumetric medium using a first upper bound for a density of the volumetric medium; generating, in a second rendering pass, a second set of pixel values associated with rendering the volumetric medium using a second upper bound for the density of the volumetric medium, wherein the second upper bound is different from the first upper bound; and generating a rendering of the volumetric medium based on the first set of pixel values and the second set of pixel values. || 20. A system, comprising: one or more memories that store instructions, and one or more processors that are coupled to the one or more memories and, when executing the instructions, are configured to perform the steps of: generating, in a first rendering pass, a first set of pixel values associated with rendering a volumetric medium using a first upper bound for a density of the volumetric medium; generating, in a second rendering pass, a second set of pixel values associated with rendering the volumetric medium using a second upper bound for the density of the volumetric medium, wherein the second upper bound is different from the first upper bound; and generating a rendering of the volumetric medium based on the first set of pixel values and the second set of pixel values.