POLYGON RENDERING METHODS

RENDERING means giving proper intensity at each point in a graphical object to make it look like real world object.

Different Rendering Methods are

Constant Intensity Shading. Gouraud Shading.

Phong Shading.
Fast Phong Shading.

CONSTANT INTENSITY SHADING

Also Called Flat Shading Fast and Simple Method A single intensity is calculated for each polygon(
in the polygon-mesh)

All points in the surface of polygon are displayed

with the same intensity value.
N1 N3

N4

N2

For Getting Good Results Through Constant Intensity Shading

Object is a polyhedron. Light sources illuminating the object are

sufficiently far from the surface

The viewing position is sufficiently far from

the surface.

GOURAUD SHADING
Intensity interpolation scheme developed by
Gouraud.

Represents a polygon surface by linearly interpolating

intensity across the polygon surface.

Intensity values for each polygon are matched with

adjacent polygon along common edges.

Eliminates the intensity discontinuity that can occur in flat

shading.

Polygon surface is represented by the following calculations:

1. Determine the average unit vector at each

polygon vertex.

2. Apply an illumination model to each vertex to

calculate the vertex intensity.

3. Linearly interpolate the vertex intensities over

the surface of the polygon.

5 p

Advantages

It removes intensity discontinuities associated with flat

shading. Disadvantages

Highlights on the surface are sometimes displayed in

irregular shapes.

Linear intensity interpolation can cause intensity stripe

called Mach bands, to appear on the surface.

Phong Shading
Normal Vector Interpolation Shading Developed by Phong Bui Tuong

Accurate method
Displays more realistic highlights Reduces Mach band effect Interpolate normal vectors and then apply illumination

Polygon surface is rendered using the following steps :

Determine the average unit normal vector at each

polygon vertex

Linearly interpolate the vertex normals over the

surface of the polygon

Apply an illumination model along each scan line to

calculate projected pixel intensities for the surface points

Interpolation of surface normals along a polygon edge

N1 N3

Scan line

N2

Advantages n Disadvantages
Adv. Intensity calculations produce more accurate results Displays more realistic highlights on the surface Greatly reduces the Mach-band effect. [The Mach band effect exaggerates the change in intensity at any boundary where there is a discontinuity in magnitude or slope of intensity.] Dis adv. Requires more calculations

Fast Phong Shading

It is a goal of any one writing
a 3D engine.

Phong shading is still

common in 3D system.

It is faster and easier way to

approximate the intensity calculation.

Phong shading is more realistic than Gouraud

shading, but requires more computation.

Phong shading using differences takes about six

to seven time longer than Gouraud shading.

Limitations in the normal phong shading lead to

the development of fast-phong shading

technique.

Fast Phong Shading

Surface Rendering can be speeded up by using
approximations in the illumination-model
calculations of normal vectors.

It approximates the intensity calculations using a

Taylor-series expansion and triangular surface patches.

Rendering is faster than the normal Phong shading.