Real-Time Rendering, Fourth Edition, 4th Edition

Chapter 15 Non-Photorealistic Rendering

DOI: 10.1201/b22086-15

“Using a term like ‘nonlinear science’ is like referring to the bulk of zoology as ‘the study of nonelephant animals.’ ”

—Stanislaw Ulam

Photorealistic rendering attempts to make an image indistinguishable from a photograph. Non-photorealistic rendering (NPR), also called stylized rendering, has a wide range of goals. One objective of some forms of NPR is to create images similar to technical illustrations. Only those details relevant to the goal of the particular application are the ones that should be displayed. For example, a photograph of a shiny Ferrari engine may be useful in selling the car to a customer, but to repair the engine, a simplified line drawing with the ...