Interactive exploded focus $$+$$ + context technique for volume visualization

Abstract

Volume rendering in real time is limited by the difficulty of creating views for occluded features of interest. This paper presents a novel approach to volume visualization based on a nonlinear distortion model, in which an exploded view of occluded volumetric features is presented in a focus $$+$$ context manner. In the proposed system, focus is created using size-based region-growing segmentation. The focus and context can be rendered using various effects to create an intuitive view for the user. In an interactive setting, the proposed technique provides easy visual access to features of interest within a given volume for exploration as well as presentation.