Parallel algorithms for visualising image surfaces

A parallel approach to processing and viewing image surfaces is presented. The approach incorporates a parallel SIMD solution to the visibility or hidden-surface, problem for perspective views, visibility maps and shadowing of image surfaces. The algorithm presented belongs to a more general class of techniques based on successive application of one-dimensional scan-line operations, in row and column directions, to appropriate intermediate spatial transformations of images. Data access requirements are regularised and independent of data values, and thus predictable, giving significant advantage on parallel and sequential machines