flipcode - C-Buffers And Z-Buffers

C-Buffers And Z-Buffers
Question submitted by (03 August 2000)


	Hello. I was just wondering- what would be the advantage of rendering to a cBuffer and a zBuffer? Thanks.


	Here's a quick run-down. These are the key points. Depending on your situation, there may be other minor advantages or disadvantages that apply. Advantages of a z-buffer: Easily implemented in hardware. Easily implemented in software. Works well on any scene. Disadvantages of a z-buffer: Highly memory intensive (specialized hardware can avoid this drawback.) Not well suited for higher-level visibility/occlusion culling. Highly resolution dependent. Prone to accuracy problems. Advantages of the c-buffer: Works well on scenes with large polygons (in these cases, faster than z-buffer and uses less memory.) Not resolution dependent in the X-direction. Works very well with higher-level visibility/occlusion culling algorithms. Less prone to accuracy problems than z-buffers. Disadvantages of the c-buffer: Fast complexity growth with lots of small polygons in complex scenes. Not as easily adapted for hardware as z-buffers. Much trickier to code than a z-buffer (especially if you allow interpenetration.) Resolution dependent in the Y direction (same as z-buffer.) Response provided by Paul Nettle

This article was originally an entry in flipCode's Ask Midnight, a Question and Answer column with Paul Nettle that's no longer active.