Isoluminance Contours: A Fast, Simple Model fo 4D Animated Visualization

Abstract

This chapter introduces the Isoluminance Contour Model, which not only provides a quick and easy method for generating images, but also dramatically reduces the amount of work required by traditional computer graphics methods. It starts with the history of the model from its conception in 1981: it was used to generate flat-shaded greyscale, simple, primitive objects such as cubes, cylinders, cones, and spheres, by generating full-color smooth-shaded images for animated sequences. The model compares the degree of realism and the speed of production it generates with that achieved by using smooth shading and ray-tracing methods. It ultimately describes how the amount of data used by the Isoluminance Contour Model can be adapted dynamically to suit the screen size of the primitive object being generated, making real-time 4-dimensional animated visualization feasible on a Pentium 400 (or equivalent) or faster PC.