Patent ID: 7248260

Claim:
An image generation system which generates an image visible from a virtual camera in an object space, the image generation system comprising: an alpha-value synthesis section which synthesizes a first alpha value and an alpha-nonuniformity setting alpha-value into a second alpha value, the first alpha value corresponding to a Z-value of each pixel in an original image, and the alpha-nonuniformity setting alpha-value of each pixel being nonuniform in an X-Y plane; and a color synthesis section which synthesizes a color of each pixel in the original image and a given color, based on the second alpha value, wherein the alpha-value synthesis section synthesizes a plurality of alpha-nonuniformity setting alpha-values provided for a plurality of X-Y planes into the alpha-nonuniformity setting alpha-value to be synthesized with the first alpha value, the plurality of alpha-nonuniformity setting alpha-values being different in the nonuniformity pattern; wherein the alpha-value synthesis section reduces a synthesis rate of an alpha-nonuniformity setting alpha-value for the nearest X-Y plane among the plurality of X-Y planes when a virtual distance from the virtual camera to the nearest X-Y plane is shorter than a given distance; wherein the alpha-value synthesis section reduces a synthesis rate of an alpha-nonuniformity setting alpha-value for the farthest X-Y plane among the plurality of X-Y planes when a virtual distance from the virtual camera to the farthest X-Y plane is larger than a given distance; and wherein the image visible from the virtual camera in the object space is generated based on the color synthesized by the color synthesis section.