Method and system for light field rendering

A method for creating a new image of a scene at a new viewpoint comprising the steps of:

• acquiring light-field radiance data along at least one planar (u,v) surface by collecting an array of planar images directed towards the center of the scene, said array of planar images having inter-element coherence;
• storing and compressing said acquired light field radiance data;
• selecting a planar pixel element along a new viewpoint plane;
• computing line parameters for image rays originating from the scene which pass through said at least one planar (u,v) surface and which intercept said selected pixel element;
• and
• calculating the radiance for said image rays intersecting said pixel element by using a subset of said acquired light-field radiance data.

A system for creating and displaying new images of a scene comprising:

• means for acquiring light field data composed of an array of planar images of the scene along at least one plan a surface, said array of planar images having inter-element coherence;
• means for storing and compressing said light-field data;
• means for computing image rays intercepting pixels at a new location;
• and
• resampling means for calculating the radiance of said image rays using said compressed light field data.