System and method for adding detail to texture imagery in computer generated interactive graphics

A method of magnifying a base texture to generate an unblurred magnified image of the base texture, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) filtering a high resolution source image to generate a base texture, said high resolution source image comprising high frequency information and low frequency information, said high frequency information being not strongly correlated with said low frequency information;
• (b) extracting a representative portion of said high frequency information from said source image to generate a detail texture, said detail texture comprising said extracted representative portion of high frequency information;
• and
• (c) augmenting said generated base texture with high frequency information from said detail texture to thereby generate a magnified image of said generated base texture.

An apparatus for interactively magnifying a base texture to generate an unblurred magnified image of the base texture, said apparatus comprising:

• a base texture generator for filtering a high resolution source image to generate a base texture;
• a detail texture generator for extracting a representative portion of high frequency information from said source image to generate a detail texture, said detail texture comprising said extracted representative portion of high frequency information;
• scale factor generating means for generating a scale factor for a particular level of detail;
• a first multiplier, coupled to said detail texture generator and said scale factor generating means, for multiplying signals representing said detail texture with signals representing said scale factor to thereby generate a scaled detail texture for said particular level of detail;
• a second multiplier having a first input and a second input, the first input being coupled to said first multiplier, for multiplying signals present on said first input with signals present on said second input to thereby generate a scaled base texture, said first input receiving signals from said first multiplier representing said scaled detail texture;
• a selector, coupled to said base texture generator and said second input of said second multiplier, for routing signals representing the generated base texture to said second input when said base texture represents a color image, and for routing signals representing a value of 1.0 to said second input when said base texture represents an intensity image;
• and
• an adder, coupled to said second multiplier and said base texture generator, for adding signals representing said generated base texture to signals representing said scaled base texture to thereby generate a magnified image of said generated base texture at said particular level of detail.

A method of interactively magnifying a base texture to generate an unblurred magnified image of the base texture, said method comprising the steps of:

• filtering a high resolution source image to generate a base texture;
• extracting a representative portion of high frequency information from said source image to generate a detail texture, said detail texture comprising said extracted representative portion of high frequency information;
• generating a scale factor for a particular level of detail;
• multiplying signals representing said detail texture with signals representing said scale factor to thereby generate a scaled detail texture for said particular level of detail;
• determining whether said base texture represents a color image or an intensity image;
• multiplying signals representing said scaled detail texture with signals representing the generated base texture to thereby generate a scaled base texture when said base texture represents a color image;
• adding signals representing said generated base texture to signals representing said scaled base texture to thereby generate a magnified image of said generated base texture at said particular level of detail when said base texture represents a color image;
• and
• adding signals representing said generated base texture to signals representing said scaled detail texture to thereby generate a magnified image of said generated base texture at said particular level of detail when said base texture represents an intensity image.