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GPU Gems: Programming Techniques, Tips and Tricks for Real-Time Graphics
book

GPU Gems: Programming Techniques, Tips and Tricks for Real-Time Graphics

by Randima Fernando
March 2004
Intermediate to advanced
816 pages
16h 56m
English
Addison-Wesley Professional
Content preview from GPU Gems: Programming Techniques, Tips and Tricks for Real-Time Graphics

Chapter 8. Simulating Diffraction

Jos Stam Alias Systems

What Is Diffraction?

Most surface reflection models in computer graphics ignore the wavelike effects of natural light. This is fine whenever the surface detail is much larger than the wavelength of light (roughly a micron). For surfaces with small-scale detail such as a compact disc, however, wave effects cannot be neglected. The small-scale surface detail causes the reflected waves to interfere with one another. This phenomenon is known as diffraction.

Diffraction causes the reflected light from these surfaces to exhibit many colorful patterns, as you can see in the subtle reflections from a compact disc. Other surfaces that exhibit diffraction are now common and are mass-produced to create ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9780321545404Purchase book