Image generation method and apparatus

A method of generating frequency component image data representative of image information of a plurality of different spatial frequencies of an image of at least part of a subject from a predefined view, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of images comprising image data representative of a subject from a plurality of view points;
• determining, for each of said plurality of received images, visibility data indicative of the relative visibility of portions of the surface of said subject from said viewpoints and associating portions of projections of frequency component image data, with said visibility data;
• utilizing said visibility data associated with portions of said projections to determine frequency component image data representative of frequency image information of an image of said subject from said predefined views;
• and
• for each spatial frequency for which frequency component image data is generated, utilizing each portion of said projections of frequency component image data to determine frequency component image data representative of spatial frequency information of said spatial frequency for corresponding portions of said image.

A method of generating image data of an image of a subject from a selected viewpoint, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of images comprising image data representative of a subject from a plurality of view points;
• for each of said plurality of received images, determining frequency component image data representative of image information of a plurality of different spatial frequencies within said received images and determining projections of said frequency component image data projected to a predefined view;
• for each of said plurality of different spatial frequencies, utilizing said projections of frequency component image data to generate frequency component image data representative of spatial frequency information of an image of at least part of said subject from said predefined view;
• generating texture map data utilizing said frequency component image data;
• determining the projection of a three dimensional model defined by said model data as perceived from a selected viewpoint;
• and
• texture rendering said projection of said model utilizing said texture map data.

Apparatus for generating frequency component image data representative of image information of a plurality of different spatial frequencies of an image of at least part of a subject from a predefined view, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver operable to receive a plurality of images comprising image data representative of a subject from a plurality of view points;
• a position determination unit operable to determine from a plurality of received images the relative positions of the viewpoints of a subject represented in said images;
• a modeling unit operable to determine from a plurality of images and data indicative of the viewpoints of a subject represented in said images, model data representative of the surface of said subject;
• a determination unit operable to determine for each of a plurality of received images, frequency component image data representative of image information of a plurality of different spatial frequencies within said images received by said receiver;
• a projection generation unit operable to determine projections of frequency component image data determined by said determination unit projected to a predefined viewpoint utilizing position data determined by said position determination unit and model data of a surface of a subject determined by said modeling unit;
• and
• an image generator operable to utilize projections of frequency component image data determined by said projection generation unit for each of said plurality of different spatial frequencies, to generate frequency component image data representative of spatial frequency information of an image of at least part of said subject from said predefined view.

Apparatus for generating frequency component image data representative of image information of a plurality of different spatial frequencies of an image of at least part of a subject from a predefined view, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver operable to receive a plurality of images comprising image data representative of a subject from a plurality of view points;
• a determination unit operable to determine for each of a plurality of received images, frequency component image data representative of image information of a plurality of different spatial frequencies within images received by said receiver and determine projections of said frequency component image data projected to a predefined view;
• a visibility determination unit operable to determine visibility data indicative of the relative visibility of portions of the surface of a subject from viewpoints;
• an association unit operable to associate portions of projections of frequency component image data determined by said determination unit with visibility data determined by said visibility determination unit;
• and
• a processor operable to utilize visibility data associated with portions of projections by said association unit to determine frequency component image data representative of frequency image information of an image of a subject from a predefined view.