Dense light-field data can be generated from image data that does not include light-field data, or from image data that includes sparse light-field data. In at least one embodiment, the source light-field data may include one or more sub-aperture images that may be used to reconstruct the light-field in denser form. In other embodiments, the source data can take other forms. Examples include data derived from or ancillary to a set of sub-aperture images, synthetic data, or captured image data that does not include full light-field data. Interpolation, back-projection, and/or other techniques are used in connection with source sub-aperture images or their equivalents, to generate dense light-field data.