Tech Report CS-95-06

Practically Frameless Rendering

Matthias M. Wloka, Robert C. Zeleznik and Timothy Miller

March 1995

Abstract:

We describe practically frameless rendering: a new technique that applies wherever a frame-buffer is in use, for example, to 3D $z$-buffered rendering or to 2D user interfaces. Its advantages include higher frame-rate (our software implementation almost doubles the frame-rate and future hardware implementations potentially quadruple it), less lag, and generation of motion blur without additional overhead. However, practically frameless rendering also degrades image quality. Thus, practically frameless rendering allows the programmer to trade faster image generation for reduced image quality. Depending on the application, such a trade-off might be desirable. We explore some of the possible variations.

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