Reflection (computer graphics): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:02, 6 May 2020

Revision as of 21:57, 8 May 2020

Line 12:

[[Image and object order rendering|Image order rendering]] algorithms based on tracing rays of light, such as [[Ray tracing (graphics)|ray tracing]] or [[path tracing]], typically compute accurate reflections on general surfaces, including multiple reflections and self reflections. However these algorithms are generally still too computationally expensive for real time rendering (even though specilized HW exists, such as [[Nvidia RTX]]) and require a different rendering approach from typically used [[rasterization]].

Reflections on planar surfaces, such as planar mirrors or water surfaces, can be computed simply and accurately in real time with two pass rendering — one for the viewer, one for the view in the mirror, usually with the help of [[stencil buffer]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kligard |first1=Mark |title=Improving Shadows and Reflections via the Stencil Buffer |date=1999 |pages=7 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238248138_Improving_Shadows_and_Reflections_via_the_Stencil_Buffer238248138 |accessdate=25 April 2020}}</ref> Some older video games used a trick to achieve this effect with one pass rendering by putting the whole mirrored scene behind a transparent plane representing the mirror.<ref>{{cite AV media | title =Off Camera Secrets, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes - Boundary Break|url =https://youtube.com/channel/UCHTnEwQKNwm49CQeCVZogMw?page=1&sort_by=popular|time =4:32|access-date =25 April 2020}}</ref>

Reflections on non-planar (curved) surfaces are more challenging for real time rendering. Main approaches that are used include: