Question

Difference between z buffer method and scan line method

Answer 1

When viewing a picture containing non transparent objects and surfaces, it is not possible to see those objects from view which are behind from the objects closer to eye. To get the realistic screen image, removal of these hidden surfaces is must. The identification and removal of these surfaces is called as the Hidden-surface problem.

Z-buffer, which is also known as the Depth-buffer method is one of the commonly used method for hidden surface detection. It is an Image space method. Image space methods are based on the pixel to be drawn on 2D. For these methods, the running time complexity is the number of pixels times number of objects. And the space complexity is two times the number of pixels because two arrays of pixels are required, one for frame buffer and the other for the depth buffer.

The Z-buffer method compares surface depths at each pixel position on the projection plane. Normally z-axis