METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A VIRTUAL LIGHT SOURCE FOR VOLUME-RENDERED IMAGES

A system and method for controlling a virtual light source includes generating a volume-rendered image including a rendered object, controlling a shading and an illumination of the volume-rendered image based on a position of the virtual light source with respect to the rendered object, and receiving a control input from a user interface. The system and method includes automatically moving the virtual light source to an updated position along a height contour established with respect to a surface of a rendered object in the volume-rendered image in response to the control input. The system and method includes calculating an updated shading and an updated illumination based on the updated virtual light source position.