Method and apparatus for recording one-step, full-color, full-parallax, holographic stereograms

1. A method comprising:

for each viewing zone among a plurality of viewing zones,

selecting, from among a plurality of scenes, a respective scene viewable from the viewing zone, and

generating a computer model of each of the selected scenes; and

for each elemental hologram among a plurality of elemental holograms for a holographic stereogram

determining viewing zone mask volumes for the elemental hologram, wherein the plurality of elemental holograms comprises a plurality of contiguous elemental portions,

for each viewing zone mask volume,

rendering an image of the selected scene enclosed by the viewing zone mask volume, wherein the rendering is based at least in part on the computer model of the selected scene enclosed by the viewing zone mask volume, and

after rendering is complete for each of the viewing zone mask volumes,

generating a composite rendered image for the elemental holograms, and

storing the composite rendered image in a computer memory.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting sizes of the elemental holograms; and

selecting shapes of the elemental holograms.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting a display effect for the holographic stereogram.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the holographic stereogram is configured to display a different orientation of an object in each of the viewing zones.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the holographic stereogram is configured to display a different orientation of a scene in each of the viewing zones.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the holographic stereogram is configured to display a different shape of an object each of the viewing zones.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the holographic stereogram is configured to display a different color of the object each of the viewing zones.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the holographic stereogram is a full-parallax holographic stereogram.

9. A system comprising:

means for selecting, from among a plurality of scenes, for each viewing zone among a plurality of viewing zones, a respective scene viewable from the viewing zone;

means for generating a computer model of each of the selected scenes;

means for determining, for each elemental hologram among a plurality of elemental holograms for a holographic stereogram, viewing zone mask volumes for the elemental hologram, wherein the plurality of elemental holograms comprises a plurality of contiguous elemental portions;

means for rendering, for each elemental hologram and for each viewing zone mask volume, an image of the selected scene enclosed by the viewing zone mask volume, wherein the rendering is based at least in part on the computer model of the selected scene enclosed by the viewing zone mask volume;

means for, after rendering is complete for each of the viewing zone mask volumes, generating a composite rendered image for the elemental holograms; and

means for storing the composite rendered image in a computer memory.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:

means for selecting sizes of the elemental holograms; and

means for selecting shapes of the elemental holograms.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the holographic stereogram is configured to display a different orientation of an object in each of the viewing zones.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the holographic stereogram is configured to display a different orientation of a scene in each of the viewing zones.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the holographic stereogram is configured to display a different shape of an object each of the viewing zones.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the holographic stereogram is configured to display a different color of the object each of the viewing zones.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the holographic stereogram is a full-parallax holographic stereogram.

16. A system comprising:

a memory; and

a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to:

for each viewing zone among a plurality of viewing zones,

select, from among a plurality of scenes, a respective scene viewable from the viewing zone, and

generate a computer model of each of the selected scenes; and

for each elemental hologram among a plurality of elemental holograms for a holographic stereogram

determine viewing zone mask volumes for the elemental hologram, wherein the plurality of elemental holograms comprises a plurality of contiguous elemental portions, and

for each viewing zone mask volume,

render an image of the selected scene enclosed by the viewing zone mask volume, wherein the rendering is based at least in part on the computer model of the selected scene enclosed by the viewing zone mask volume, and

after rendering is complete for each of the viewing zone mask volumes,

generate a composite rendered image for the elemental holograms, and

store the composite rendered image in the memory.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

selecting sizes of the elemental holograms; and

selecting shapes of the elemental holograms.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the holographic stereogram is configured to display a different orientation of an object in each of the viewing zones.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the holographic stereogram is configured to display a different color of the object each of the viewing zones.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the holographic stereogram is a full-parallax holographic stereogram.