d a g lt d a d b c x y c b if d a d b g lt d a d b d c c x y c c and if d a d b d c g 1 c x y c d best results are obtained by ordering the 4 basic colors c a c b c c and c d located at the vertices of a tetrahedron according to their increasing cie lab lightness values l the method for generating and displaying images incorporating animated microstructures requires the definition of the following elements see fig8 color information necessary for rendering the target animated microstructure image optional a time dependent animation transformation t t specifying an animated microstructure evolving as a function of time a warping transformation t t specifying a warping between the animated or initial microstructure and the warped microstructure optional and optionally a mask specifying the global image portions which are to be rendered with animated microstructures as well as a possible blending between original image and pure animated microstructure image the blending allowing to specify microstructure appearance properties such as visibility position and spatial extension of the microstructure the original image is located in an original image space x u2032 y u2032 the original microstructure is located in an original.