ComputerRendering

Computerrendering encompasses the algorithms and processes used to convert 3D models, materials, lighting and camera parameters into a 2D image. It can operate offline to produce photorealistic frames or in real time for interactive applications. The output depends on models, textures, materials, lighting, and the chosen rendering technique.

Two broad approaches are rasterization, the traditional real-time method, and ray tracing, which simulates light paths to produce more accurate lighting. Modern systems often combine both: rasterization for speed and ray tracing for effects like reflections, refractions and global illumination. Path tracing is a form of ray tracing that simulates many light paths to converge to a photorealistic image, typically requiring substantial computation.

Key concepts include shading models (Phong, Cook-Tarrance, physically-based rendering), texture mapping, anti-aliasing, and global illumination, including ambient occlusion, radiosity, and voxel or ray-based methods. The rendering pipeline involves stages such as scene geometry processing, shading, shadowing, and compositing, often implemented in graphics hardware (GPUs) and software renderers.

Applications span video games, visual effects in film, architectural visualization, and simulation. Common software tools include real-time engines like Unreal and Unity, and offline renderers such as RenderMan, Cycles (Blender), Arnold, and V-Ray. Rendering is supported by graphics APIs such as OpenGL, DirectX, Vulkan, and Metal.