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Window visualizer for RayTracer

Started by threethazz Oct 16, 2008 at 12:29 PM 3 replies 1.1k views

Original Post

Oct 16, 2008 at 12:29 PM

Hello there! I'm writing to ask for some help and pointers. I'm now starting the development of an interactive ray tracer (something similar to Ingo Wald's OpenRT) on Linux. The thing is I'm not very good at this openGL and graphics thing. I just need something to open a window, show the frame my software produced, and keep updating it (to generate fps). Right now all it does is export the calculated frame to a HDR image, that is opened with exrdisply ( http://www.openexr.com/ ) The exrdisplay has 4 sliders to control the quantity of light(exposer, defog, knee low, knee high). So my window will have to have these 4 sliders and show the frames. What would you recommend for me to use? OpenGL, allegro, sdl or other? is there anything already on the internet done so I can just adapt? thanks in advance :) Threethazz PS: sorry if this is a repost. I've done some searches but everything I got was directioned for game development and not for this low level stuff. [Edited by - threethazz on October 16, 2008 1:25:24 PM]

Kambiz

Oct 16, 2008 at 1:45 PM

Have you tried PixelToaster?
It is extremely easy to use:

Display display( "Example", 320, 240 ); vector<Pixel> pixels( 320 * 240 ); while ( display.open() ) {     update(pixels);// raytrace...    display.update( pixels ); }

It supports floating point colours, but I think you have to do the tone mapping yourself.

SDL is also a good choice.
OpenGL does not do any kind of window management and I have never used Allegro.

threethazz

Oct 17, 2008 at 11:08 AM

Thank you for your reply.

I'm wondering if pixeltoaster handles HDR images... does anyone know about this?

Threethazz

threethazz

Oct 20, 2008 at 9:55 AM

So, I've been trying to get glut and glui to work, but the thing is, these methods end up controling my application, and they only use call backs. What I want is to have the Raytracer controling everything, and the visualization window to be an "add-on". Something that just receives the calculated array of pixels and shows.

I know this is possible with only openGL, but its going to take a lot of time. So is there anything lighter besides pixeltoaster?

Thanks in advance,
Threethazz

threethazz

Mar 14, 2009 at 10:48 AM

Hi again.

I used Pixeltoaster and worked very well till some bug interfered with my bvh
tree construction and now I have to go back and implement other GUI library.

I ask again which other light library I could use. Qt is way to heavy and depends
on way too many stuff. PixelToaster was perfect, too bad no one replies me on their forum.

I'm now looking at sdl and guichan. I'd really appreciate
some help on this one, cause I'm in a great hurry!

Thanks in advance,
Threethazz

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