Image-based objects [16] are composed of six layered-depth images [22] of an object properly registered. An IBO can be displayed from an arbitrary viewpoint where it will be rendered correctly. Applications of image-based objects include virtual museums, web-based catalogs and computer games. Multiple IBO's can be composed together and still be properly rendered, since McMillan's results about occlusion compatible ordering [12,11] for rendering apply to one or more IBO's.
One benefit of image-based objects is that of bandwidth. Sending an IBO to a web-browser is not much more costly than sending an animated GIF, yet with an IBO, the user can move the viewpoint arbitrarily. Additionally, an IBO can be rendered interactively, giving the user instant feedback.
An example of 4 of the images used to build an IBO and their rendering are shown in figure 4. The images only use the laser light, but future objects will also have color.
 |