Method for predictively splitting procedurally generated particle data into screen-space boxes

A storage medium storing a computer program executable by a processor based system, the computer program causing the processor based system to execute steps comprising:

• receiving an input particle system, an instancing program, and a number indicating a maximum number of particles to be stored in memory;
• providing an input particle count representative of at least a portion of the input particle system to at least one operator for the instancing program;
• running the at least one operator in a prediction mode to generate an output particle count;
• comparing the output particle count to the number indicating a maximum number of particles to be stored in memory;
• and
• spatially splitting a bounding box representative of the input particle count in response to the output particle count being greater than the number indicating a maximum number of particles to be stored in memory.

An apparatus for use in rendering, comprising:

• means for receiving an input particle system, an instancing program, and a number indicating a maximum number of particles to be stored in memory;
• means for providing an input particle count representative of at least a portion of the input particle system to at least one operator for the instancing program;
• means for running the at least one operator in a prediction mode to generate an output particle count;
• means for comparing the output particle count to the number indicating a maximum number of particles to be stored in memory;
• and
• means for spatially splitting a bounding box representative of the input particle count in response to the output particle count being greater than the number indicating a maximum number of particles to be stored in memory.