Mastering mental ray®: Rendering Techniques for 3D & CAD Professionals

Chapter 6. Global Illumination and Caustics

In this chapter, I cover indirect illumination using Global Illumination and Caustics. Global Illumination is a diffuse transfer of illumination between surfaces and a large-scale effect that creates an indirect illumination effect often times larger than 1 meter. Caustics are the concentration of light energy into focused patterns, as with a magnifying glass in the sun or patterns of light reflected from water. Both indirect illumination effects are accomplished through the transfer of illumination between surfaces using points of light energy and color called photons, which are emitted from light sources. Photons more closely mimic the way that indirect illumination works in the real world, and when ...