Method for generating detail directed visibility elements for a graphics model

摘要

A method generates a detail directed hierarchical representation of orientations of a surface of a graphics model. The surface of the graphics model is partitioned into surface cells, each surface cell enclosing a portion of the surface. The surface cells are stored in a hierarchical data structure having levels, wherein the number of levels for a particular portion of the surface is determined by surface detail of the particular portion. A visibility element of the enclosed portion of the surface is determined for each surface cell, the visibility element specifying an axis and a spread defining a range of normal values of the enclosed portion of the surface. The visibility element is stored with the associated surface cell. The surface detail of the particular portion can be determined by a degree of curvature and shading parameters of the surface of the particular portion.