High precision non-binary voxelization of geometric objects

Abstract

Volume graphics represents a set of techniques aimed at modeling, manipulation and rendering of objects represented by means of a 3D raster of elementary volume primitives-voxels. It represents a viable alternative for the standard surface graphics, and as such, it provides us with a possibility to overcome some of its bottlenecks and to extend its capabilities even further. Namely, by means of voxelization, it decouples object specific issues from rendering and enables uniform representation of all objects by a single primitive, the voxel. Thus, instead of dealing with a number of different objects with specific features, a renderer processes only one primitive object, which simplifies its architecture and leads to a more effective implementation. Moreover, rendering is independent on the original number of objects and hence a complete independence on object and scene complexity is achieved. Voxelization, i.e. a conversion of object representation by means of analytic formulas to the discrete 3D raster stands in the core of volume graphics techniques. We present and critically analyze distance oriented techniques as a tool for alias free volumetric representation of geometric objects.