METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RENDERING THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGES

摘要

A computer-implemented method for modeling a three-dimensional image with polygons having different levels of detail. The method includes initially modeling the three-dimensional image with a first plurality of polygons at a first level of detail. The first level of detail represents the coarsest level of detail available for modeling the three-dimensional image. The first plurality of polygons are provided as part of an input data set (202). The method further includes comparing a distance between a first polygon of the first plurality of polygons and an eye point to a predefined threshold distance value associated with a level of detail of the first polygon (204). If the distance is less than the predefined threshold distance value, the method substitutes in a second plurality of polygons for the first polygon. The second plurality of polygons are at a second level of detail higher than the first level of detail and computed in advance prior to a commencement of the initial modeling step and provided as part of the input data set.