Three-dimensional image synthesis using view interpolation

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the present invention, these objectives are achieved through the use of view interpolation to generate intermediate images from stored images that are taken from nearby viewpoints.
The view interpolation is based on techniques that are similar to image morphing.
More particularly, a plurality of images are stored which respectively correspond to the views of a scene from different locations.
To generate the view from an intermediate viewpoint between those locations, adjacent images are morphed to create the new image.
Maps which identify the correspondence between any two adjacent images are pre-computed and stored.
These maps are employed during the morphing process, to thereby allow the image generation to be carried out at interactive rates.
To accelerate the morphing process, a block compression technique is employed to compress the maps, thereby reducing the number of computations that are performed in the generation of a new image.
In addition, though proper selection of the stored images, the visibility priority of pixels within an image can be made view independent, thereby eliminating the need to resolve visibility during the morphing step.
The mapping operation enables other results to be achieved more rapidly as well.
Many computer graphic renderings are computed much more slowly than real time, but rely on the capability of creating many subsidiary images from closely spaced viewpoints to depict complex effects of light and shadow in a single final image.
In such situations, the pictures created by the mapping techniques of the present invention can be used instead of much more expensive traditional rendering.
For example, a sequence of mapped views can be constructed to portray soft shadows that result in a scene from an extended light source.
In addition, blurring due to motion of an object within a scene can be computed more efficiently.
These, as well as other features and advantages of the invention are explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to specific examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings