This thesis deals with computer generated images. The thesis begins with an overview of a generalised computer graphics system, including a brief survey of typical methods for generating photorealistic images. One such technique, ray tracing, is used as the basis for the work which follows. The overview section concludes with a statement of the aim which is to: Investigate the effective use of available processing power and effective utilisation of available memory by implementing a ray tracing programme which uses space subdivision, multiple processors and a distributed world model database. The problem formulation section describes the ray tracing principle and then introduces the main areas of study. The INMOS Transputer (a building block for concurrent systems) is used to implement the multiple process ray tracer. Space subdivision is achieved by repeated and regular subdivision of a world cube (which contains the scene to be ray traced) into named cubes, called octrees. The subdivision algorithm continues to subdivide space until no octree contains more than a specified number of objects, or until the practical limit of space subdivision is reached. The objects in the world model database are distributed in a round robin manner to the ray trace processes. During execution of the ray trace programme, information about each object is passed between processes by a message mechanism. The concurrent code for the transputer processes, written in OCCAM 2, was developed using timing diagrams and signal flow diagrams derived by analogy from digital electronics. Structure diagrams, modified to be consistent with OCCAM 2 processes, were derived from the timing diagrams and signal flow diagrams. These were used as a basis for the coding. The results show that space subdivision is an effective use of processor power because the number of trial intersections of rays with objects is dramatically reduced. In addition, distribution of the world model database avoids duplication of the database in the memory of each process and hence better utilisation of available memory is achieved. The programmes are supported by a menu driven interface (running on a PC AT) which enables the user to control the ray trace processes running on the transputer board housed in the PC.

This thesis is concerned in the method of realistic rendering using a distributed raytracing. This method simulates various visual effects and generates high realistic 2D images. The work analyses the problem and explains principles of solution related to this technique. There is also descriprion of the method of simple reytracing which provides a basis for the distributed raytracing. A part of work is specialized for optimalization of distributed raytracing.

Mit der Verbreitung von Linux als Desktopsystem steigen auch die Anforderungen des Nutzers an multimediale Fähigkeiten wie z.B. das Anhören eines digitalisierten Musikstückes, die Einbindung einer Digitalkamera in die Bildverarbeitung, die Nutzung einer Radio/TV-Karte oder gar das Bearbeiten eines kleinen Videofilms.

Mit der Verbreitung von Linux als Desktopsystem steigen auch die Anforderungen des Nutzers an multimediale Fähigkeiten wie z.B. das Anhören eines digitalisierten Musikstückes, die Einbindung einer Digitalkamera in die Bildverarbeitung, die Nutzung einer Radio/TV-Karte oder gar das Bearbeiten eines kleinen Videofilms.

Raytracing is a basic technique for displaying 3D objects. The goal of this thesis is to demonstrate the possibility of implementing raytracer using a programmable GPU. The algorithm and its modified version, implemented using "C for CUDA" language, are described. The raytracer is focused on displaying dynamic scenes. For this purpose the KD tree structure, bounding volume hierarchies and PBO transfer are used. To achieve realistic output, photon mapping was implemented.