System and methods for displaying virtual space including a silhouette image

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing an image processing program, which when executed by a computer that displays an image on a display device, causes the computer to at least:

generate a three-dimensional virtual space including a first model of a first object, a solid second polygonal model of a second object, and a silhouette model of the second object co-located with, and contained within, the solid second polygonal model, the silhouette model comprising a plurality of planar polygons each having a silhouette image depicting a silhouette of the second object at a respective different orientation of the second object relative to a predetermined axis of the solid second polygonal model, wherein the plurality of planar polygons cross each other on the predetermined axis and the predetermined axis is located at approximately the center of the solid second polygonal model;

generate a display image by imaging the three-dimensional virtual space using a virtual camera; and

display the generated display image on the display device, wherein

the display image is generated such that a portion of the silhouette model of the second object is rendered on portions of a front surface of the first model to show a silhouette of the second object, wherein the first model is disposed between the virtual camera and the solid second polygonal model of the second object.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 1 , wherein the first model comprises a planar polygon onto which an image that is captured by a real camera is pasted.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 1 , wherein the display image is generated such that an opening is formed in part of the first model, a portion of the solid second polygonal model is rendered in the opening, and the portion of the silhouette model of the second object is rendered on the portions of the front surface of the first model.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 1 , wherein the display image is generated such that the portion of the silhouette model of the second object is rendered at a position on the front surface of the first model corresponding to a position of the solid second polygonal model behind the first model and reflecting the orientation of the solid second polygonal model present behind the first model.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 1 , wherein the display image is generated such that a silhouette image of one of the plurality of planar polygons of the silhouette model is rendered as a semi-transparent image on the front surface of the first model.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 1 , wherein each silhouette image is an image of an outline of the solid second polygonal model, viewed from a normal direction of the corresponding planar polygon.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 1 , wherein an alpha value is set in the first model and an alpha value is set in the silhouette model of the second object, and

in the generating of the display image, the display image in which the silhouette model of the second object is rendered at the front surface of the first model is generated on the basis of a comparison between the alpha value of the first model and the alpha value of the silhouette model of the second object.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 1 , wherein the first model is an image that is captured by a real camera imaging the first object in the real world.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 1 , wherein in the generating of the display image, an opening is formed in part of the first model, and the display image which portrays the solid second polygonal model present behind the first model through the opening is generated.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 9 , wherein in the generating of the display image, the display image which portrays the silhouette model at the front surface of the first model outside the opening is generated.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 1 , wherein the solid second polygonal model is an object that moves back and forth between a near side and a far side of the first model.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing the image processing program according to claim 1 , wherein the silhouette model of the second object is an image corresponding to a view direction from the virtual camera and that results from simplifying the second polygonal model.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing an image processing program, which when executed by a computer that displays an image on a display device, causes the computer to at least:

generate a three-dimensional virtual space including a first model of a first object and a solid second polygonal model of a second object, and a relationship model of the second object co-located with, and contained within, the solid second polygonal model, the relationship model comprising a plurality of planar polygons each having a silhouette image depicting a silhouette of the second object at a respective different orientation of the second object relative to a predetermined axis of the solid second polygonal model, wherein the plurality of planar polygons cross each other on the predetermined axis and the predetermined axis is located at approximately the center of the solid second polygonal model;

generate a display image by imaging the three-dimensional virtual space using a virtual camera; and

display the generated display image on the display device, wherein

the display image is generated such that a portion of the relationship model of the second object is rendered on portions of a front surface of the first model to show a silhouette of the second object, wherein the first model is disposed between the virtual camera and the solid second polygonal model of the second object.

14. An image processing device that displays an image on a display device, comprising:

an image generator configured to:

generate a three-dimensional virtual space including a first model of a first object and a solid second polygonal model of a second object, and a silhouette model of the second object co-located with, and contained within, the solid second polygonal model, the silhouette model comprising a plurality of planar polygons each having a silhouette image depicting a silhouette of the second object at a respective different orientation of the second object relative to a predetermined axis of the solid second polygonal model, wherein the plurality of planar polygons cross each other on the predetermined axis and the predetermined axis is located at approximately the center of the solid second polygonal model; and

generate a display image by imaging the three-dimensional virtual space using a virtual camera; and

a display controller configured to display the generated display image on the display device, wherein

the display image is generated such that a portion of the silhouette model of the second object is rendered on portions of a front surface of the first model to show a silhouette of the second object, wherein the first model is disposed between the virtual camera and the solid second polygonal model of the second object.

15. The image processing device according to claim 14 , wherein the first model is a planar polygon onto which an image that is captured by a real camera is pasted.

16. The image processing device according to claim 15 , wherein the display image is generated such that the silhouette model of the second object is rendered at a position on the front surface of the first model corresponding to a position of the solid second polygonal model behind the first model and reflecting the orientation of the solid second polygonal model present behind the first model.

17. The image processing device according to claim 16 , wherein the display image is generated such that an opening is formed in part of the first model, the portion of the solid second polygonal model is rendered in the opening, and a portion of the silhouette model of the second object is rendered next to the opening and on the portions of the front surface of the first model.

18. An image processing system in which a plurality of devices are configured so as to be communicable with each other, and which displays an image on a display device, the image processing system comprising:

an image generator to:

generate a three-dimensional virtual space including a first model of a first object and a solid second polygonal model of a second object, and a silhouette model of the second object co-located with, and contained within, the solid second polygonal model, the silhouette model comprising a plurality of planar polygons each having a silhouette image depicting a silhouette of the second object at a respective different orientation of the second object relative to a predetermined axis of the solid second polygonal model, wherein the plurality of planar polygons cross each other on the predetermined axis and the predetermined axis is located at approximately the center of the solid second polygonal model; and

generate a display image by imaging the three-dimensional virtual space using a virtual camera; and

a display controller to display the generated display image on the display device, wherein

the display image is generated such that a portion of the silhouette model of the second object is rendered on portions of a front surface of the first model to show a silhouette of the second object, wherein the first model is disposed between the virtual camera and the solid second polygonal model of the second object.

19. An image processing method executed by one processor or a plurality of processors in coordinated fashion included in an image processing system constituted by at least one information processing device capable of image processing for displaying an image on a display device, the image processing method, comprising:

generating a three-dimensional virtual space including a first model of a first object and a solid second polygonal model of a second object, and a silhouette model of the second object co-located with, and contained within, the solid second polygonal model, the silhouette model comprising a plurality of planar polygons each having a silhouette image depicting a silhouette of the second object at a respective different orientation of the second object relative to a predetermined axis of the solid second polygonal model, wherein the plurality of planar polygons cross each other on the predetermined axis and the predetermined axis is located at approximately the center of the solid second polygonal model;

generating a display image by imaging the three-dimensional virtual space using a virtual camera; and

displaying the generated image on the display device, wherein

the display image is generated such that a portion of the silhouette model of the second object is rendered on portions of a front surface of the first model to show a silhouette of the second object, wherein the first model is disposed between the virtual camera and the solid second polygonal model of the second object.