Algebraic design of multi-dimensional transfer function using transfer function synthesizer

In this paper, we propose a novel transfer function (TF) design interface for multi-variate volume rendering. To design higher dimensional TFs in an general and flexible manner, a transfer function synthesizer (TFS) is developed. On the TFS, multi-dimensional TFs are generated by algebraic synthesis of one-dimensional TFs, which are designed based on the conventional GUIs or algebraic expressions. The TFS enables not only multi-variate volume rendering, but also general visualization techniques, such as surface visualization and image composition, within the framework of volume rendering. The TFS is implemented on the remote visualization system PBVR, and applied to various multi-variate scalar volume data generated from nuclear applications. Graphical abstract