Real-Time Rendering, Fourth Edition, 4th Edition

Chapter 1 Introduction

DOI: 10.1201/b22086-1

Real-time rendering is concerned with rapidly making images on the computer. It is the most highly interactive area of computer graphics. An image appears on the screen, the viewer acts or reacts, and this feedback affects what is generated next. This cycle of reaction and rendering happens at a rapid enough rate that the viewer does not see individual images, but rather becomes immersed in a dynamic process.

The rate at which images are displayed is measured in frames per second (FPS) or Hertz (Hz). At one frame per second, there is little sense of interactivity; the user is painfully aware of the arrival of each new image. At around 6 FPS, a sense of interactivity starts to grow. Video games ...