Vector field visualization with streamlines

TL;DR

This paper presents an improved algorithm for vector field visualization using oriented streamlines, enhancing local magnitude depiction and comparing it with LIC-based methods, with applications in liquid crystal visualization.

Contribution

An improved vector field visualization algorithm that better depicts local magnitudes and orientations, advancing previous streamline-based methods.

Findings

Enhanced visualization of local vector magnitudes.

Comparison shows improved clarity over LIC methods.

Applicable to liquid crystal director fields.

Abstract

We have recently developed an algorithm for vector field visualization with oriented streamlines, able to depict the flow directions everywhere in a dense vector field and the sense of the local orientations. The algorithm has useful applications in the visualization of the director field in nematic liquid crystals. Here we propose an improvement of the algorithm able to enhance the visualization of the local magnitude of the field. This new approach of the algorithm is compared with the same procedure applied to the Line Integral Convolution (LIC) visualization.