Optimization of Single and Layered Surface Texturing

Abstract

In visualization problems, surface shape is often a piece of data that must be shown effectively. One factor that strongly affects shape perception is texture. For example, patterns of texture on a surface can show the surface orientation from foreshortening or compression of the texture marks, and surface depth through size variation from perspective projection. However, texture is generally under-used in the scientific visualization community. The benefits of using texture on single surfaces also apply to layered surfaces. Layering of multiple surfaces in a single viewpoint allows direct comparison of surface shape. The studies presented in this dissertation aim to find optimal methods for texturing of both single and layered surfaces. This line of research starts with open, many-parameter experiments using human subjects to find what factors are important for optimal texturing of layered surfaces. These experiments showed that texture shape parameters are very important, and that texture brightness is critical so that shading cues are available. Also, the optimal textures seem to be task dependent; a feature finding task needed relatively little texture information, but more shape-dependent tasks needed stronger texture cues. In visualization problems, surface shape is often a piece of data that must be shown effectively. One factor that strongly affects shape perception is texture. For example, patterns of texture on a surface can show the surface orientation from foreshortening or compression of the texture marks, and surface depth through size variation from perspective projection. However, texture is generally under-used in the scientific visualization community. The benefits of using texture on single surfaces also apply to layered surfaces. Layering of multiple surfaces in a single viewpoint allows direct comparison of surface shape. The studies presented in this dissertation aim to find optimal methods for texturing of both single and layered surfaces. This line of research starts with open, many-parameter experiments using human subjects to find what factors are important for optimal texturing of layered surfaces. These experiments showed that texture shape parameters are very important, and that texture brightness is critical so that shading cues are available. Also, the optimal textures seem to be task dependent; a feature finding task needed relatively little texture information, but more shape-dependent tasks needed stronger texture cues.