Patent ID: 7106275
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: G06T,G09G

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for combining at least two overlapping layers to render an image, the image containing a plurality of image pixels, each overlapping layer containing a plurality of layer pixels, each layer pixel corresponding to one of the image pixels, wherein each layer pixel has an opacity value and wherein at least one of the overlapping layers has a fade value that specifies an overall opacity of the at least one of the overlapping layers, the method comprising: a′) defining a tile, the tile comprising a subset of the image pixels delimited according to an area of overlap among a set of at least two layers, so that a first portion of the image lies within the tile and a second portion of the image lies outside the tile; and a) processing the first portion of the image distinctly from the second portion of the image by, for at least one image pixel in the defined tile: wherein, for each defined tile, the set of layers that overlap within the tile is homogenous throughout the entirety of the tile.