US Patent 7385614 Compositing images using logically divided object space

An apparatus and method of processing object data (e.g., a scene having one or more objects) logically divide the object space into a plurality of contiguous (or noncontiguous) portions. At least two portions each have object data for such object(s). The apparatus and method also determine a positional priority of the at least two portions of the object space for a given viewpoint. Next, the apparatus and method merge rendered object data after at least some of the object data is rendered. This merging is based upon the positional priority of the at least two portions.