Hello, I've successfully implemented ZPass/ZFail shadow volumes in my engine. I now want to optimize them, so they allow for higher framerates. I wanted to render my volumes using GL_QUAD_STRIP rather then standalone quads, but I don't really know how to do this. Some online papers mention that I'm required to calculate possible silhouette loop connectivity. Well, I think I've already calculated this, but I'm not sure. The NeHe tutorial on shadow volumes talked about finding the "neighbouring indices" and the "face connectivity". My question: is this the same? and how do I render the quad strip when I have the right data? PS: If anyone knows how to render shadow volumes with external triangles, please explain this too if you want.

Anyone?

The presentation at the link below has some images, which explain rather nicely how to do stencil shadows completely on the GPU with proper vertex shader. Check pages 21-23.

Link

Thanx for the info. Does anyone have any info about using external triangles to improve performance?
I'll look at using a vertex shader to improve performance, but does anyone have a link to info about the semi-automatic method. I'd like to let the CPU calculate the silhouette and let the GPU extrude the vertices. That way I won't have to insert redundant data into the vertex array.