Non-invasive Stylized Rendering on GPU

To achieve various stylized visual effects non-invasively in real-time graphic applications, we propose a hardware-accelerated algorithm. By intercepting OpenGL API functions, the algorithm changes the conventional rendering process. The algorithm is a purely hardware-accelerated approach by post-processing the color-buffer and depth-buffer in graphics processing units (GPU). The algorithm utilizes OpenGL shading language (GLSL) as the high-level shading language. The algorithm is compatible with other hardware-accelerated algorithms (e.g., displacement mapping or matrix palette skinning). The algorithm has been implemented on Windows2000/XP platform using VC++ and OpenGL. The graphics boards are an ATI RADEON 9800XT and a NVIDIA GeForce FX5600. Experimental results show that the algorithm is suitable for interactive applications of non-photorealistic rendering, and it can be used as a powerful tool for stylized rendering.