2D Vector Field Visualization Based on Streamline Texture Synthesis

In 2D vector field visualization,the texture based methods represent the field structures globally,and have become attractive alternatives.In this paper we presents a new texture based technique:Streamline Texture Synthesis(STS).Many 1D textures which have high strong directions are synthesized firstly.STS uses a random 1D texture to texture map each streamline,then synthesizes texture mapped steamlines.In local vector field region,the steamlines are approximately parallel,so a streamline can be drawn thicker in order to accelerate computing.The thickness of a streamline is set based on the critical point of a vector field.The thick streamline is rendered as many parallel streamlines,then many 1D textures are used to texture map them.The STS can generate animation by cycling through 1D texture.The analyzed result proves that STS can produce substantially better visual results and STS is fast enough to visualize vector field interactively.