Computer display of curved surfaces

Abstract: This thesis attacks the problem of generating computer synthesized images both more rapidly and more realistically. Increase in speed is achieved by a scan line based algorithm for drawing pictures of parametrically defined curved surfaces. Computation time is reduced by requiring calculation at only a few visually important points along a scan line, and by interpolating intensities between them. The realism is increased by use of shading functions based on semi-empirical models of how light actually reflects off of real surfaces. Other enhancements involve simulation of surface roughness and irregularities by applying perturbations to the properties of the surface as a function of the value of the defining parameters.