~4Dgifts/toolbox/src/exampleCode/SgiTex README
ascii version of the first two pages of the showcase file paper.sc
Texture Mapping in Technical, Scientific and Engineering Visualization
Michael Teschner[1] and Christian Henn[2]
[1] Chemistry and Health Industry Marketing,
Silicon Graphics Basel, Switzerland
[2] Maurice E. Mueller-Institute for Microscopy,
University of Basel, Switzerland
Executive Summary
As of today, texture mapping is used in visual simulation and computer
animation to reduce geometric complexity while enhancing realism. In
this report, this common usage of the technology is extended by
presenting application models of real-time texture mapping that solve
a variety of visualization problems in the general technical and
scientific world, opening new ways to represent and analyze large
amounts of experimental or simulated data.
The topics covered in this report are:
* Abstract definition of the texture mapping concept
* Visualization of properties on surfaces by color coding
* Information filtering on surfaces
* Real-time volume rendering concepts
* Quality-enhanced surface rendering
In the following sections, each of these aspects will be described
in detail. Implementation techniques are outlined using pseudo code
that emphasizes the key aspects. A basic knowledge in GL programming
is assumed. Application examples are taken from the chemical market.
However, for the scope of this report no particular chemical
background is required, since the data being analyzed can in fact be
replaced by any other source of technical, scientific or engineering
information processing.
Note, that this report discusses the potential of released advanced
graphics technology in a very detailed fashion. The presented topics
are based on recent and ongoing research and therefore subjected to
change.
The methods described are the result of a team-work involving
scientists from different research areas and institutions, and is
called the Texture Team, consisting of the following members:
* Prof. Juergen Brickmann, Technische Hochschule, Darmstadt,
Germany
* Dr. Peter Fluekiger, Swiss Scientific Computing Center, Manno,
Switzerland
* Christian Henn, M.E. Mueller-Institute for Microscopy, Basel,
Switzerland
* Dr. Michael Teschner, Silicon Graphics Marketing, Basel,
Switzerland
Further support came from SGI's Advanced Graphics Division engineering
group.
Colored pictures and sample code are available from sgigate.sgi.com
via anonymous ftp. The files will be there starting November 1st 1993
and will be located in the directory pub/SciTex.
For more information, please contact:
Michael Teschner (41) 61 67 09 03 (phone)
SGI Marketing, Basel (41) 61 67 12 01 (fax)
Erlenstraesschen 65
CH-4125 Riehen, Switzerland micha@basel.sgi.com (email)
1 Introduction
2 Abstract definition of the texture mapping concept
3 Color-coding based application solutions
3.1 Isocontouring on surfaces
3.2 Displaying metrics on arbitrary surfaces
3.3 Information filtering
3.4 Arbitrary surface clipping
3.5 Color-coding pseudo code example
4 Real-time volume rendering techniques
4.1 Volume rendering using 2-D textures
4.2 Volume rendering using 3-D textures
5 High quality surface rendering
5.1 Real-time Phong shading
5.1 Phong shading pseudo code example
6 Conclusions
Documentation
Reference
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