Enhanced image generation

An image processing method for use with an image processing apparatus for generating a display image of a space including an object, the image processing method comprising:

• given a storage part of the image processing apparatus configured to store a distribution of contribution ratios of a plurality of light sources representing sizes of effects thereof on a color of a figure of the object in association with model data of the object from a memory, the light sources being in different directions relative to the object, reading from the storage part the distribution of the contribution ratios of the plurality of light sources;
• upon rendering of the figure of the object in the display image, determining a pixel value of the figure by calculating a weighted sum of luminance values of light reflected from the object after emanating from intra-scene light sources established in the space, the calculation being made using, as a weight, the distribution of contribution ratios of the plurality of light sources obtained with respect to the directions corresponding to the intra-scene light sources, the calculating comprising:
• given another object, adjusting by calculation the luminance value of the intra-scene light source in the direction of the other object according to a distance thereto;
• and
• upon approaching of the other object, adjusting the luminance value of the intra-scene light source in the direction of the other object in such a manner that (i) the color of the intra-scene light source approaches a color on a model of the other object, (ii) the brightness of the intra-scene light source is reduced, or (iii) both;
• and
• outputting data of the display image including the object figure.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to perform a method for generating a display image of a space including an object, the method comprising:

• by a rendering part, given a storage part of the computer configured to store a distribution of contribution ratios of a plurality of light sources representing sizes of effects thereof on a color of a figure of the object in association with model data of the object from a memory, the light sources being in different directions relative to the object, reading from the storage part the distribution of the contribution ratios of the plurality of light sources;
• by the rendering part, upon rendering of the figure of the object in the display image, determining a pixel value of the object image by calculating a weighted sum of luminance values of light reflected from the object after emanating from intra-scene light sources established in the space, the calculation being made using, as a weight, the distribution of contribution ratios of the plurality of light sources obtained with respect to the directions corresponding to the intra-scene light sources, the calculating comprising:
• given another object, adjusting by calculation the luminance value of the intra-scene light source in the direction of the other object according to a distance thereto;
• and
• upon approaching of the other object, adjusting the luminance value of the intra-scene light source in the direction of the other object in such a manner that (i) the color of the intra-scene light source approaches a color on a model of the other object, (ii) the brightness of the intra-scene light source is reduced, or (iii) both;
• and
• by an output part, outputting data of the display image including the object image.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a data structure of an object model used by an image processing apparatus in generating a display image including an object, the data structure associating with each other:

• data used by the image processing apparatus to represent a shape of the object arranged in a space of a display target;
• and
• a distribution of contribution ratios of a plurality of light sources representing sizes of effects thereof on a color of an image of the object, the plurality of light sources being in different directions relative to the object, the distribution of the contribution ratios being used by the image processing apparatus upon rendering of a figure of the object to determine a pixel value of the figure of the object by calculating a weighted sum of luminance values of light reflected from the object after emanating from intra-scene light sources established in the space, the calculation being made using, as a weight, the distribution of contribution ratios of the plurality of light sources obtained with respect to the directions corresponding to the intra-scene light sources, wherein, given another object, the rendering part calculates the weighted sum by adjusting by calculation the luminance value of the intra-scene light source in the direction of the other object according to a distance thereto, wherein, upon approaching of the other object, the rendering part adjusts the luminance value of the intra-scene light source in the direction of the other object in such a manner that (i) the color of the intra-scene light source approaches a color on a model of the other object, (ii) the brightness of the intra-scene light source is reduced, or (iii) both.