Visualizing the Tooth Volume

Initially the volume visualization pane (top of the Visualization pane) displays a three dimensional representation of the data as orthogonal slices. However, the volume visualization pane can perform full volume rendering as shown in Figure 2.10.

Figure 2.10. Volume Rendering

Volume Rendering in Volume Pane

Turn on volume rendering by clicking the Visualization Settings pane's Volume Rendering tab and then click the check-box labeled Show Volume Rendering. NOTE: On machines with graphics cards that do not support shaders, the user must manipulate the Global Opacity to perform volume rendering.

Figure 2.11. Turning on Volume Rendering

Turning on Volume Rendering

The volume can be manipulated with the mouse. The most commonly used actions are listed in Table 2.2, “Volume Mouse Controls”. A complete list of keyboard/mouse actions can be found in the SCIRun Users Guide.

Table 2.2. Volume Mouse Controls

ControlEffect
Button1+DragTranslate left, right, up, down
Button3+DragZoom in and out
Button2+DragRotate volume

If the object is no longer in view, click Autoview, found in the Visualization Settings pane's 3D Options tab. Autoview restores a resonable view. Pressing Control+V in the volume visualization pane performs the same function.

Using the Paintbrush

BioImage provides a simple paintbrush tool for coloring the Volume. First click on the Volume Rendering Tab, shown in Figure 2.11 and then click the Add Paint Layer button shown in Figure 2.11 item 10. Note a new item named "Paint" is added to the list of color layers in Figure 2.12.

Figure 2.12. Paint Layer

Paint Layer

The paint color defaults to a random color so that each new paint layer has a unique color. Click on the "Color" rectangle in Figure 2.11 item 11 to bring up the color picker.

Using the color picker, set the color to blue by moving the red and green scrolls to the left, the blue scroll to the right, and the alpha scroll to the center, as show in Figure 2.13. Then click OK to close the color picker.

Figure 2.13. Paint Color Picker

Paint Color Picker

Scroll through the remaining layers and disable them by toggling their "On" buttons, as show in Figure 2.14, so that only the recently added paint layer is active. These layers are covered in the Transfer Function section.

Figure 2.14. Only the paint layer is active

Only the paint layer is active

Using your left mouse button, color the area inside of the top of the tooth as displayed inside of the sagittal viewer. You should now see the blue color applied to the volume as shown in Figure 2.15.

Now add another paint layer, and set its color to red. Again, using the left mouse button color the area inside of the root display in the sagittal viewer. You should now see the root colored in red and the top of the tooth colored in blue.