Image Based Rendering and General Relativity

Abstract

Imaged-based rendering is a well-known method in computer graphics to achieve photo-realistic images. In this paper we show how conventional image-based rendering algorithms can be extended to visualize general relativistic effects in a restricted class of spacetimes. We propose a generalized aberration formula in order to treat the visualization of special and general relativistic effects on the same footing. In this way, image-based general relativistic rendering can be regarded as an extension of special relativistic rendering. As an example, we present snapshots from the viewpoint of an observer traveling at warp speed.