Virtual jewel rendering for augmented reality environments

Virtual Mirrors are augmented reality applications that capture a viewer´s image and add 2D or 3D overlaid virtual elements, such as cloth patterns, or replace existing pieces of garments, such as shoes, by virtual ones. The purpose of our study is to focus on the addition of jewels that present complex rendering issues due to reflection and translucency, especially for real-time applications. We propose two complementary approaches which are both suited for particular objects. The image-based rendering technique relies on an image data-set of photos taken on a semi-circle of camera positions and a 3D reconstruction of the jewel. This approach is exploited to demonstrate real jewels with sophisticated refractions and highlights. The analytical 3D rendering technique can also visualize configurable virtual jewels and is based on the decomposition of the jewel into parts without non-local reflection or transparency. A graph-based rendering chain takes in consideration some of the self-reflection and lighting effects.