Information Visualization using Transparent Shape Impostors

Abstract

Transparency is a graphical effect used in visualizations to present co-located graphical glyphs. Accomplishing a visually convincing transparency effect requires complex calculations of light absorption and refraction in object space. Alternatively, screen-space sorted rendering of graphical primitives using colour- blending techniques can be used for interactive applications. In this paper an efficient way is presented to render transparent glyphs for information visualization. The technique combines random dot surface plots with pre-computed transparent shape impostors to present different levels of transparency for co-located graphical glyphs. It is shown that this rendering method is faster than ordered polygon rendering using blending.