Ray Tracing Surfaces with Contours

Abstract

We present two algorithms for ray tracing surfaces with contour lines that are level surfaces of scalar fields. One algorithm renders the contours as bands of constant finite width, while the other renders them as one pixel wide anti-aliased lines. The algorithms work with mathematically defined implicit and parametric surfaces, and triangle meshes. The contours can help visualize the surfaces, and visualize functions defined on the surfaces, such as their curvature properties.