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Large-scale analysis and visualization is becoming increasingly important as supercomputers and their simulations produce larger and larger data. These large data sizes are pushing the limits of traditional rendering algorithms and tools. In order to better understand real-world performance with large data, this paper presents a detailed timing study on a large cluster with the widely used visualization tools ParaView and VisIt. The software ray tracer Manta was integrated into these programs in order to show that improved performance could be attained with software ray tracing on a distributed memory, GPU enabled, parallel visualization resource.

 

Rendering Improvements

Shading models that reproduce natural lighting conditions have been shown to better convey depth information and spatial relationships but they traditionally require considerable (pre)computation. We have developed a shading model for interactive direct volume rendering that provides perceptual cues similar to those of ambient occlusion, for both solid and transparent surface-like features. We have extended this to combine both volumetric and geometric primitives. Using the framework, we can also include depth of field rendering to highlight specific regions in still images.

 

Better shading methods for volume rendering

volume

Phong volume shading with Phong surface shading

occlusion

Combined occlusion shading with Phong surface shading

rm-a rm-c
IEEE Pacific Vis 2011, IEEE TVCG 2012 EuroVis 2011, IEEE Pacific Vis 2013

 

 

Improved VisIt volume rendering

visit-previous visit-improved
Previous VisIt Improved VisIt

 

Ray-Tracing for Visualization

Large-scale analysis and visualization is becoming increasingly important as supercomputers and their simulations produce larger and larger data. These large data sizes are pushing the limits of traditional rendering algorithms and tools. The software ray tracer Manta was integrated into ParaView and VisIt in order to show that improved performance could be attained on a distributed memory, GPU enabled, parallel visualization resource.

 

uintah paraview rm-raycasting
Uintah Data Incorporated into ParaView and VisIt Cluster-based Ray-tracing, EuroGraphics PGV 2013