APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING HIDDEN SURFACE REMOVAL AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

An image processing apparatus includes a first and second Z value calculators that calculate a polygon Z value and a block Z value, respectively. The polygon Z value is a coordinate value of a pixel located at a closest point to a viewpoint. The block Z value is a coordinate value of a pixel located at a closest point to the viewpoint in a block. The apparatus also includes a Z value selector that selects a Z value of a pixel closer to the viewpoint from the polygon Z value and the block Z value as an estimate Z value; and a hidden-surface removal unit that eliminates drawing of the polygon in the block when a pixel corresponding to the estimate Z value is located at a farther point from the viewpoint than a pixel located at a farthest point from the viewpoint.