Three-dimensional image processing method and apparatus, readable storage medium storing three-dimensional image processing program and video game system
AssigneeKonami Corporation
InventorsMakoto Higashiyama, Tatsuya Shinkai, Kentaro Nagayama
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Abstract
Vertices of a polygon model M0 are sorted into those on which rays are projected (visible-surface vertices M01) and those on which rays are not projected (hidden-surface vertices M02) based on normal vectors V2 of the vertices of the polygon model M0 and a light source vector V1, and shadow models (shadow volumes) M1, M2, M3 are generated by moving the hidden-surface vertices in a direction of the light source vector V1. Shadow images can be easily created by applying stenciling to these shadow models.
Claims11
A readable storage medium storing a three-dimensional image processing program for a video game system that has an image display means for displaying images and storage means for storing game program data to generate a shadow model of a solid model formed by polygons each having vertex normal vectors, the program comprising the steps of:
- vertex sorting processing for sorting respective vertices of the polygons forming the solid model into visible-surface vertices facing in a direction toward a light source and hidden-surface vertices facing in a direction opposite from the light source,
- said solid model being a character movable in a height direction in a simulated 3D space such that the character as a whole rises above and leaves a ground surface in the simulated 3D space;
- storing in memory unit magnification rates at which the hidden-surface verticles are magnified in the 3D space;
- and
- shadow model generating processing for deforming the solid model by moving the hidden-surface vertices in a propagating direction of rays from the light source and magnifying the hidden-surface verticles at said rates stored in the memory unit to produce a deformed shadow on the ground surface having a distorted shape of the character when the character as a whole rises above and leaves the ground surface.
A three-dimensional image processing method for a video game system that has an image display means for displaying images and storage means for storing game program data to generate a shadow model of a solid model formed by polygons each having vertex normal vectors, said method comprising the steps of:
- sorting the respective vertices of the polygons forming the solid model into visible-surface vertices facing in a direction toward a light source and hidden-surface vertices facing in a direction opposite from the light source,
- said solid model being a character movable in a height direction in a simulated 3D space such that the character as a whole rises above and leaves a ground surface in the simulated 3D space;
- storing in a memory unit magnification rates at which the hidden-surface verticles are magnified in the 3D space;
- and
- deforming the solid model by moving the hidden-surface vertices in a propagating direction of rays from the light source and magnifying the hidden-surface vertices at said rates stored in the memory unit to produce a deformed shadow on the ground surface having a distorted shape of the character when the character as a whole rises above and leaves the ground surface.
A video game system comprising:
- a three-dimensional image processing apparatus for generating a shadow model of a solid model formed by polygons each having vertex normal vectors, said 3D image processing apparatus including;
- vertex sorting means for sorting respective vertices of the polygons forming the solid model into visible-surface vertices facing in a direction toward a light source and hidden-surface vertices facing in a direction opposite from the light source;
- said solid model being a character movable in a height direction in a simulated 3D space such that the character as a whole rises above and leaves a ground surface in the simulated 3D space;
- a memory unit including a shadow model generating section having a hidden-surface surface magnification data portion which stores magnification rates at which the hidden-surface vertices are magnified in 3D space;
- and
- shadow model generating means for deforming the solid model by moving the hidden-surface vertices in a propagating direction of rays from the light source and magnifying the hidden-surface vertices at said rates stored in the memory unit to produce a deformed shadow on the ground surface having a distorted shape of the character when the character as a whole rises above and leaves the ground surface;
- and
- image display means for displaying images;
- program storage means for storing a game program data;
- externally operable operation means, and
- wherein the three-dimensional image processing apparatus displays images on the image display means in accordance with the game program data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.