Polygonreflektor

Polygonreflektor is a term used in computer graphics and computational geometry to describe a hypothetical device or algorithm that generates per-polygon reflection data for polygonal scenes. In this concept, each polygon face carries its own reflective properties, allowing reflections to be computed from the surrounding geometry and lighting rather than relying solely on a global environment map.

The name blends polygon and reflektor (reflector). It appears mainly in speculative discussions, design proposals, and educational explanations rather than as a formal standard. It is often presented as a bridge between traditional reflection mapping and per-face shading in polygonal meshes.

Proposed mechanisms vary, but a typical outline envisions computing a reflectance value for every polygon by sampling incident light directions at the face, optionally considering the viewer position, and encoding the reflected environment into a texture or data channel associated with the polygon. The approach can be static or dynamic, adapting to lighting and motion.

Potential applications include real-time rendering experiments, architectural visualization, and art installations that emphasize stylized reflections on low-polygon models. As a concept, polygonreflektor is useful for illustrating the trade-offs between environment mapping, per-face shading, and ray-traced reflections.

Limitations include the lack of standardization and varying implementations, which can introduce performance overhead and quality differences. It remains largely a theoretical or exploratory idea rather than an established technique.

See also: environment mapping, reflection mapping, specular reflection, ray tracing, shading models.