VOLUMETRIC RAY CASTER
Explanation of Core Concepts
This project uses ray-casting to create a volume visualization of a tooth data set. It accomplishes this by making a ray for each pixel on the screen. If the ray intersects the rectangular prism encompassing the data set, then the program calculates the ray's path with a back-to-front implementation that utilizes a predefined time step.
If the ray's path intersects with any of the data, then the program uses trilinear interpolation to calculate the given location's density. This density is then used in creating a unique numerical value. These values are accumulated as the program continues to travel down the path of each ray, where the end result is then used to determine an accurate color and opacity for the corresponding pixel on the screen.
Ray Casting Video
This is a short video that shows the program in action. In this video, the user changes the coloring scheme to better highlight the density of the tooth. The transparent blue-coloring scheme is best used to emphasize the inner-shape of the tooth, while the green, yellow, and red coloring scheme is meant to highlight the differences in the tooth's density across different regions. The color red corresponds to the most dense portion of the tooth.
