Water Wave Rendering via Normal Map Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile games lack realistic water surface interaction effects due to hardware limitations and unnatural special effects, which hinder immersive experiences for users.
Innovation Solution
An image rendering method that acquires a normal map based on a water wave map for a target water body region and renders a water wave effect, simulating realistic water wave animation by iteratively updating the normal map frame by frame, focusing on the region around a dynamic object to reduce complexity and calculation load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a special effect is bound to the dynamic game object to disturb the water surface, then water surface interaction effect is achieved, but the special effect swings like a tail behind the object making the game picture look unnatural
Solution Approach 1:
The water surface is divided into multiple regions (target water body region and other regions), and the rendering is performed separately on each region. The normal map is generated only for the target region where the dynamic object is located, while other regions use pre-generated normal maps. This segmentation allows the water wave effect to be naturally integrated without causing unnatural swinging effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The normal map is generated in advance based on the water wave map before rendering the water wave effect. This preliminary generation of the normal map from the water wave map ensures that the water surface interaction effect is pre-computed and ready for rendering, avoiding the need for real-time special effects that cause unnatural swinging.
2Ease of operation
If water surface interaction effect is implemented using special effects, then user immersion is improved, but hardware performance limitations are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The water wave effect rendering is extracted and performed only on the target water body region where the dynamic object is located, rather than rendering the entire water surface. This extraction approach reduces the computational complexity and hardware requirements while maintaining the immersive effect in the critical area.
Solution Approach 2:
Different rendering quality is applied to different regions: high-quality water wave effect rendering is applied to the target water body region, while standard rendering is applied to other regions. This local quality approach optimizes the balance between immersion and hardware performance requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the entire water surface is rendered with water wave effects, then immersive experience is improved, but calculation load and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water surface is segmented into a target water body region and other regions. The normal map is generated and water wave effect is rendered only for the target region, while other regions use pre-generated normal maps. This segmentation significantly reduces the calculation load while maintaining immersive experience in the critical area.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rendering water wave effects across the entire water surface, the patent applies the effect partially only to the target water body region where the dynamic object is located. This partial action approach reduces computational complexity while providing sufficient immersive experience for the user.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed in the embodiment of the present application are an image rendering method and apparatus and a storage medium. A normal map, corresponding to a target water region in which a dynamic object in a subsequent image frame is located, is acquired on the basis of a water wave image corresponding to a target water region in which a dynamic object in a current image frame is located; and thus a water wave effect of the target water region in which the dynamic object in the subsequent image frame is located is rendered according to the normal map. A frame-wise iterative rendering process can simulate vivid water wave effects by which interactions on the water surface are presented naturally so as to provide a user with an immersive experience. The complexity and operation volume thereof are also reduced since only a target water region is rendered with water wave effects, such that the application is better suited to a mobile terminal.