Method and system for x-ray image generation

A method for generating a virtual radiograph for display on a display device, including providing an image generation system having a processing circuit including a processor and a memory device, the image generation system coupled to the display device. The method further including retrieving three-dimensional image data of an anatomy stored in the memory and retrieving a three-dimensional bone model corresponding to a portion of the anatomy stored in the memory. The method further including associating the three-dimensional bone model with the three-dimensional image data such that the three-dimensional bone model defines first boundary containing a first bounded volume within the three-dimensional image data corresponding to the portion of the anatomy, and performing a volume ray casting process on the three-dimensional image data.