High-quality high-performance rendering for multi-screen projection displays

Multi-screen projection displays (MSPD) are not really new, but new and rare enough to nothaving influenced graphics hardware and software to natively fit their needs. This article describes how to integrate the special needs of MSPDs into a standart graphics rendering-pipeline. UUsing the example of OpenGL, the by far most widely used graphics API for interactive and immersive graphic systems, the viewing pipeline is examined for changes needed to accommodate MSPDs. The main focus lies on which functionalities are influenced by these changes and which features need special care to work on MSPDs. The resulting artifacts are examined and classified. Important aspects are lighting continuity across edges, including specular highlights, environment mapping and fog. Alternative solutions of making them work are examined for their performance implications and possible interoperability problems.