Advanced Global Illumination, 2nd Edition

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 What Is Realistic Image Synthesis?

Realistic image synthesis is a domain in the field of computer graphics that generates new images from other data. Typically, one starts from a complete description of a three-dimensional scene, specifying the size and location of objects, the material properties of all surfaces of solid objects in the scene, and the position and emission characteristics of light sources. From this data, a new picture is generated, as seen from a virtual camera placed in the scene. The aim is to make these pictures as photorealistic as possible, such that the difference with a real photograph (if the virtual scene would be constructed in reality) is not noticeable. This requires the underlying physical ...