Model of yarn-level visualization of historical fabrics based on the use of levels of detail in Sphere Tracing

Abstract

The visualization of fabrics at microscopic level involves a significant computational cost due to the large number of 3d elements required to display each yarn. Often, these visualizations rely on offline systems that display the final result only after an extended rendering time, which does not allow real-time interaction or visualization. While other models can allow for real-time rendering, they may require high memory usage and preprocessing times. Moreover, threads with metallic wraps used in historical fabrics cannot be represented using existing yarn models. In this paper, we present a yarn-level weaving model based on Sphere Tracing, which enables real-time rendering of historical Jacquard weaves with diverse weft types. The primary goal of this visualization is to analyze and reconstruct weaving structures constructed using these looms to safeguard this valuable cultural heritage. Furthermore, we propose a new level of detail technique, which extends the fundamental Sphere Tracing algorithm. This approach enables the visualization of a complete fabric at varying scales while requiring low memory usage and short preprocessing times.