System and method for estimating the rendering cost for images

A method comprising:

• receiving a three-dimensional computer graphics model associated with a movie;
• generating a rendering cost estimate by deriving rendering cost estimate information from the model and combining the information with a rendering cost estimation relationship, including:
• generating an antialiasing cost contribution by multiplying a line length affected by antialiasing by an antialiasing cost per unit length;
• and
• generating a ray tracing cost contribution by multiplying an area affected by ray tracing by a ray tracing cost per unit area;
• and
• providing the rendering cost estimate to a movie studio prior to rendering the model.

A method comprising:

• receiving a computer-graphics model from a computer-graphics model creator;
• deriving rendering cost estimate information from the computer-graphics model;
• further comprising receiving a price to be charged for the rendering that is specified by the computer-graphics model creator;
• generating a rendering cost estimate by using the derived information;
• wherein said generating comprises generating the rendering cost estimate based on the specified price;
• and
• providing the rendering cost estimate to the computer-graphics model creator prior to the rendering of the model.

A method comprising:

• receiving a computer-graphics model from a computer-graphics model creator;
• deriving rendering cost estimate information from the computer-graphics model;
• generating a rendering cost estimate by using the derived information;
• wherein said generating comprises generating the rendering cost estimate based on a resolution, a number of triangles, an antialiasing setting, a motion blur setting, a ray tracing setting, a percent of a scene to be ray traced, and a number of lights derived from the model, including:
• generating a first contribution to the rendering cost estimate by combining the resolution and the number of triangles with a first rendering cost estimation relationship portion;
• generating a second contribution to the rendering cost estimate by combining the antialiasing setting, the motion blur setting, and the resolution with a second rendering cost estimation relationship portion;
• generating a third contribution to the rendering cost estimate by combining the ray tracing setting, the percent of a scene to be ray traced, and the number of lights with a third rendering cost estimation relationship portion;
• and
• generating the rendering cost estimate by combining the first, the second, and the third contributions to the rendering cost estimate;
• and
• providing the rendering cost estimate to the computer-graphics model creator prior to rendering the model.

A method comprising:

• receiving a computer-graphics model from a computer-graphics model creator;
• deriving rendering cost estimate information from the computer-graphics model;
• generating a rendering cost estimate by using the derived information, including:
• generating an antialiasing cost contribution by multiplying a line length affected by antialiasing by an antialiasing cost per unit length;
• and
• generating a ray tracing cost contribution by multiplying an area affected by ray tracing by a ray tracing cost per unit area;
• and
• providing the rendering cost estimate to the computer-graphics model creator prior to rendering the model.

A method comprising:

• receiving a computer-graphics model from a computer-graphics model creator;
• deriving rendering cost estimate information from the computer-graphics model;
• generating a rendering cost estimate by using the derived information, including:
• combining a number of primitives with a first linear relationship;
• combining a resolution with a second linear relationship;
• and
• combining a number of lights with a third linear relationship;
• and
• providing the rendering cost estimate to the computer-graphics model creator prior to rendering the model.

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions for generating a rendering cost estimate that if executed cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

• deriving rendering cost estimate information from a three-dimensional computer-graphics model received from a studio;
• and
• generating a rendering cost estimate by using the derived information prior to rendering the model, including:
• generating an antialiasing cost contribution by multiplying a line length affected by antialiasing by an antialiasing cost per unit length;
• and
• generating a ray tracing cost contribution by multiplying an area affected by ray tracing by a ray tracing cost per unit area.