Nonpinhole Approximations for Interactive Rendering

Researchers have used depth images to approximate scene geometry in a variety of interactive 3D graphics applications. Previous researchers constructed images using orthographic or perspective projection, which limits the approximation quality to what's visible along a single view direction or from a single viewpoint. Images constructed with nonpinhole cameras can improve approximation quality at little additional cost, if the camera offers fast projection. For such a camera, the fundamental operation of ray-and-depth-image intersection proceeds efficiently by searching along the 1D projection of the ray onto the image. A proposed method extends epipolar geometry constraints to nonpinhole cameras for two-camera configurations. Researchers have demonstrated nonpinhole depth images' advantages in the context of reflections, refractions, relief texture mapping, and ambient occlusion. The Web extra is a video that shows how nonpinhole depth images provide advantages regarding reflection, refraction, relief texture mapping, and ambient occlusion.