Direct Volume Rendering: A 3D Plotting Technique for Scientific Data

The use of plotting techniques to comprehend scalar functions is ubiquitous in science and engineering. An effective plot uses features such as first and second derivatives to convey critical and inflection points, which help portray the overall behavior of functions around a region of interest. Direct volume rendering is an effective method for plotting 3D scientific data, but it's not used as frequently as it could be. In this article, the authors summarize direct volume rendering and discuss barriers to taking advantage of this powerful technique.