[vtkusers] Replacement for RayBounder

[Jianlong Zhou]

Hi, Lisa,

Thank you very much for your email.

The ray bounder is a main part in my program. I use it in the following ways:

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
vtkSphereSource *sphereSource =vtkSphereSource::New();
              sphereSource->SetRadius(r);
	  sphereSource->SetCenter(x, y, z);

vtkProjectedPolyDataRayBounder *raybounder =vtkProjectedPolyDataRayBounder::New();
              raybounder->SetPolyData(sphereSource->GetOutput());

vtkVolumeRayCastMapper *volumeMapper =vtkVolumeRayCastMapper::New();
	  volumeMapper->SetInput(reader->GetOutput());
	  volumeMapper->SetVolumeRayCastFunction( compositeFunction);
	  volumeMapper->SetRayBounder( raybounder);
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Yes, I use the ray bounder to bound the volume with simple convex objects (sphere, cube). I 
think this ray bound functionality is very useful for some special uses (such as to specify 
volume of interest). Is it possible to use other classes to realize this functionality instead of 
putting the ray bounder back into vtk4.0? If I can not use the ray bounder in vtk4.0 and have 
no other ways to realize this functionality in vtk4.0, I have to use vtk3.2. Because most of the 
functionalities in my vtk program depend on it. This makes me lose the chance to use the 
vtk4.0. But I hope this will not happen.

Thank you very much.

Best regards,
Jianlong


> Hello Jainlong and David (and anyone else out there who misses the ray
> bounder),
> 
> Can you tell me how you are/were using this class? When I last revised the
> ray caster (maybe a year ago?) I sent email to the list asking if anyone was
> using the ray bounder, and I received only one reply (from Bill Lorensen).
> Since it required an overhall, no one seemed to be using it, and the
> functionality was not available for the other volume mappers, I removed it.
> 
> The ray bounder can only (correctly) be used to bound the volume with a
> convex object. Are you using a few simple objects (such as a sphere and a
> cone) or are you using general convex polyherdron? Or are you using it for
> an entirely different purpose?
> 
> If possible, I would like to avoid putting the ray bounder back in, and
> instead "replace" it with something that can be provided in all volume
> mappers.
> 
> Lisa
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jianlong Zhou" <zhou at isg.cs.uni-magdeburg.de>
> To: "David Netherway" <david.netherway at adelaide.edu.au>
> Cc: <vtkusers at public.kitware.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 4:50 AM
> Subject: Re: [vtkusers] Replacement for RayBounder
> 
> 
> > Hi, David,
> > I am also finding some alternative methods for RayBounder these
> > days. There is no this functionality in vtk4.0. I think if we want to
> > realize this functionality, we maybe do it by ourselves.
> >
> > Jianlong
> >
> >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > Is there a recommended method for replacing the functionality of the
> > > RayBounder (in vtk3.2) for limiting the ray start and end points in the
> ray
> > > caster? This is for clipping a volume with an invisible surface.
> > >
> > > Thanks, David
> > >
> > >