Introduction to Computer Graphics

Chapter 11

Global Illumination

Global illumination in a 3D scene results from the propagation of light from a light source in the scene through multiple inter-reflections. This chapter presents a few algorithms to compute color due to the global illumination in the scene. Most of these algorithms simulate this propagation in one form or another. Simulation should normally proceed with the distribution of light from the light source to all other surface patches in the environment. The simulation continues by distributing reflected light from those surface patches into the environment. This light distribution process is continued till the equilibrium is reached. Some of the simulation algorithms are designed to compute equilibrium light at only ...