Systems and Methods for Improving Compression of Normal Maps

Abstract

The systems and methods described herein provide improved techniques for compressing texture maps used to render three-dimensional models in computer-generated graphics. In various implementations, the systems and methods described herein may be used to compress normal maps or similar texture maps used to render three-dimensional models. When compressing an image, a conversion may be applied to the image. For example, an integrating conversion or a color-space conversion may be applied to the image. Quantization may then be applied to the resulting integrated or color-converted image. Using an existing compression method, the resulting image may then be compressed before it is transferred and/or stored. When decompressing the image, an existing decompression method may be used that is complementary to the compression method used to compress the compressed image. The resulting decompressed integrated or color-converted image may then be converted back into the original image as described herein.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.