A survey of image-based rendering techniques

In this article, we survey the techniques for image-based rendering. In contrast with the conventional approach of using 3-D models for creating new virtual views, image-based rendering techniques require only the original images to produce new virtual views. We have identified four basic categories for image-based rendering techniques, namely non-physically based image mapping, mosaicking, interpolation from dense samples, and geometrically-valid pixel reprojection. This division is based primarily on the nature of the pixel indexing scheme. We discuss the characteristics of each of these categories and present representative techniques. From this survey, it is interesting to note that image-based rendering has evolved to be an area that has generated active interest from both computer vision and computer graphics communities.