Image-Based Modeling and Rendering Techniques: A Survey

A recent convergence of computer graphics and computer vision has produced a set of techniques collectively known as image-based modeling and rendering (IBMR). Image-based modeling refers to the use of images to drive the reconstruction of 3D models. In the case of image-based rendering, the goal is to achieve more realistic and faster renderings and to simplify the modeling task by using images, as opposed to polygons, as both modeling and rendering primitives. Image-based approaches can potentially eliminate the labor-intensive task usually required for modeling detailed geometric structures. They can also handle subtle real-world effects captured by images, but difficult to reproduce with conventional graphics techniques. This paper surveys the state-of-the-art in image-based modeling and rendering techniques, discussing the fundamental principles behind each technique, their strengths and limitations.