Image plane

<p>In <a href="/facts/3D_computer_graphics/zlWW6eaF">3D computer graphics</a>, the image plane is that <a href="/facts/Plane_(mathematics)/tAUtRFcn">plane</a> in the world which is identified with the plane of the display monitor used to view the image that is being rendered. It is also referred to as <a href="/facts/Screen_space/GfIomenN">screen space</a>. If one makes the analogy of taking a <a href="/facts/Photograph/gnq0f1or">photograph</a> to rendering a 3D image, the surface of the film is the image plane. In this case, the <a href="/facts/Viewing_transformation/XnF55m31">viewing transformation</a> is a <a href="/facts/3D_projection/FATfGH2W">projection</a> that maps the world onto the image plane. A rectangular region of this plane, called the viewing window or <a href="/facts/Viewport/6IawV5Kw">viewport</a>, maps to the monitor. This establishes the mapping between <a href="/facts/Pixels/UzwBvXBV">pixels</a> on the monitor and points (or rather, rays) in the 3D world. The plane is not usually an actual <a href="/facts/Geometric_object/wTQf5ffQ">geometric object</a> in a <a href="/facts/3D_scene/GfIomenN">3D scene</a>, but instead is usually a collection of target coordinates or dimensions that are used during the <a href="/facts/Rasterization/QXfz5t7E">rasterization</a> process so the final output can be displayed as intended on the physical screen.
</p><p>In <a href="/facts/Optics/p0vq4S1T">optics</a>, the image plane is the plane that contains the object's projected image, and lies beyond the back <a href="/facts/Focal_plane/7vqmsXJy">focal plane</a>. 
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Image plane open-in-new

Image plane