A parallel algorithm for polygon rasterization

Abstract

A parallel algorithm for the rasterization of polygons is presented that is particularly well suited for 3D Z-buffered graphics implementations. The algorithm represents each edge of a polygon by a linear edge function that has a value greater than zero on one side of the edge and less than zero on the opposite side. The value of the function can be interpolated with hardware similar to hardware required to interpolate color and Z pixel values. In addition, the edge function of adjacent pixels may be easily computed in parallel. The coefficients of the "Edge function" can be computed from floating point endpoints in such a way that sub-pixel precision of the endpoints can be retained in an elegant way.

References

1. 1 Bresenham, J. Algorithm for Computer Control of Digital Plotter. IBM Systems Journal 4,1 (1965), 25-30.
2. 2 Foley, J. and A. Van Dam, "Fundamentals of Interactive Computer Graphics."
3. 3 Fuchs, H. and Poulton J. PIXEL-PLANES: A VLSI-Oriented Design for a Raster Graphics Engine. VLSI DESIGN (Third Quarter 1981), 20-28.
4. 4 Fujimoto, A. and Iwata, K. Jag-Free Images on Raster Displays. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 3,9 (December 1983), 26-34.
5. 5 Whitton, M. Memory Design for Raster Graphics Displays. iEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 4,3 (March 1984), 48-65.

Index Terms

• Computing methodologies

  • Computer graphics

    • Graphics systems and interfaces

    • Rendering

      • Rasterization

  • Parallel computing methodologies

    • Parallel algorithms

• Hardware

  • Communication hardware, interfaces and storage

    • Displays and imagers

• Theory of computation

  • Design and analysis of algorithms

    • Parallel algorithms

  • Models of computation

    • Concurrency

      • Parallel computing models