Image-based styling

The same data can be visualized using various visual styles that each is suitable for specific requirements, e.g., 3D geodata visualized using photorealistic, cartographic, or illustrative styles. In contrast to feature-based styling, image-based styling performed in image space at image resolution allows decoupling styling from image generation and output-sensitive, expressive styling. However, leveraging image-based styling is still impeded. No previous approach allows specifying image-based styling expressively with an extensive inventory of composable operators, while providing styling functionality in a service-oriented, interoperable manner. In this article, we present an interactive system for specifying and providing the functionality of image-based styling. As key characteristics, it separates concerns of styling from image generation and facilitates specifying styling as algebraic compositions of high-level operators using a unified 3D model representation. We propose a generalized visualization model, an image-based styling algebra, two declarative DSLs, an operator taxonomy, an operational model, and a standards-based service interface. The approach facilitates expressive specifications of image-based styling for design, description, and analysis and leveraging the functionality of image-based styling in a service-oriented, interoperable, reusable, and composable manner.