multiblending patrick baudisch microsoft research visualization and interaction
multiblending patrick baudisch microsoft research, visualization and interaction research & carl gutwin university of saskatchewan
summary problem with traditional alpha blending: is this bush in palette or background? solution multiblending: glass palette distinguished from background photo & background more recognizable
contents • alpha blending and its limitations • multiblending helps preserve features • making a glass palette in five steps • user study: outperforming alpha blending • conclusions
goal of (alpha)-blending • goal: get twice the benefit from limited screen space • applications of alpha palettes • everquest • but not photoshop • example • overview: explain detail view • photo: context for editing
limitations • loss of contrast in both layers • colors are not “true” anymore • interference makes it unclear which layer a feature belongs to • all features are affected • reason • each channel (rgb) = weighted sum of respective channel in source images
multiblending • preserve the most relevant features allow different weight for each features class • avoid visual ambiguity to preserve feature in one layer eliminate that feature in other layers use perception-oriented feature classes (CIE Lab color + edges)
glass palette: steps 1 -2 1. desaturate 2. emboss…
glass palette: step 3 problems with noisy background 3. blur background…
glass palette: step 4 unused decoration 4. remove unused areas
step 5 & limitation collision: layers with same requirements 5. …re-map features
complete example opaque alpha blending multi blending
implementation • recent graphics cards (with pixel shader 2. 0) does computation on the fly • 145 frames/sec
general procedure • glass palettes is just one possible example • other application scenarios may favor different palette style • general procedure: for each feature class • decide which layer benefits more from it • eliminate feature from other layer or map it to a different feature class
user studies
user studies • compare multiblending with alpha blending at several levels of opacity • two studies: • background visibility • palette visibility
background visibility
background visibility 10% 25% 50% gp
background visibility 10% 25% 50% gp
background visibility
palette visibility
palette visibility
palette visibility
palette visibility 10% 25% 50% gp
palette visibility
user study discussion • multiblending provides both background and foreground visibility simultaneously • no single alpha value can do this
conclusions • alpha blending • causes interference • affects all features, including those that matter • multiblending is a generalization of alpha blending • multiblending • avoids interference • allows preserving the most relevant features
future work: applications • chameleon skin for audio player etc. • games (everquest) • … • suggestions?
thanks! • read more at www. patrickbaudisch. com • thanks to: • chris fedak, saskatchewan • relja markovic, xbox • mary czerwinski , andy wilson, steve drucker, ed cutrell, msr
- Slides: 29