CPU-based speed acceleration techniques for shear warp volume rendering

The shear-warp algorithm with run-length-encoded volume is one of the fastest CPU-based speed acceleration techniques developed so far for direct volume rendering. But it has some defects, such as the increases in memory consumption and preprocessing time as well as the deterioration in image quality. This paper provides two kinds of techniques that can solve such defects without degrading rendering speed. One technique concentrates on enhancing image quality and decreasing memory consumption without reducing rendering speed, by making direct access to the memory space where initially loaded volume data is stored. The other technique concentrates on accelerating rendering speed and decreasing preprocessing time, by creating only one run-length-encoded volume and by combining non-photorealistic rendering techniques with shear-warp algorithm. In the present research, both techniques efficiently decreased the memory consumption and preprocessing time of shear-warp algorithm. They also showed optimal results in rendering speed and image quality.