2D/3D LINE RENDERING USING 3D RASTERIZATION ALGORITHMS

This patent discloses a system and method to compile a set of display points that define a two dimensional representation of a straight line graphic object using three dimensional rasterization algorithms. In one embodiment, a three dimensional (3D) graphics accelerator may receive data. The data may define three vertices (x 0 , y 0 , K 0 ), (x 1 , y 1 , K 1 ), and (x 2 , y 2 , K 2 ) of a triangle primitive. Attributes K 2 =(K 0 +K 1 )/2 and coordinates (x 0 , y 0 ), (x 1 , y 1 ), and (x 2 , y 2 ) form an isosceles triangle primitive. Coordinates (x 0 , y 0 ) and (x 1 , y 1 ) define a base of the isosceles triangle primitive. The isosceles triangle primitive may be rendered using the three dimensional rasterization algorithms to obtain the set of display points that define a two dimensional representation of the base of the isosceles triangle primitive.