Renders - Features

Features

A rendered image can be understood in terms of a number of visible features. Rendering research and development has been largely motivated by finding ways to simulate these efficiently. Some relate directly to particular algorithms and techniques, while others are produced together.

• shading — how the color and brightness of a surface varies with lighting
• texture-mapping — a method of applying detail to surfaces
• bump-mapping — a method of simulating small-scale bumpiness on surfaces
• fogging/participating medium — how light dims when passing through non-clear atmosphere or air
• shadows — the effect of obstructing light
• soft shadows — varying darkness caused by partially obscured light sources
• reflection — mirror-like or highly glossy reflection
• transparency (optics), transparency (graphic) or opacity — sharp transmission of light through solid objects
• translucency — highly scattered transmission of light through solid objects
• refraction — bending of light associated with transparency
• diffraction — bending, spreading and interference of light passing by an object or aperture that disrupts the ray
• indirect illumination — surfaces illuminated by light reflected off other surfaces, rather than directly from a light source (also known as global illumination)
• caustics (a form of indirect illumination) — reflection of light off a shiny object, or focusing of light through a transparent object, to produce bright highlights on another object
• depth of field — objects appear blurry or out of focus when too far in front of or behind the object in focus
• motion blur — objects appear blurry due to high-speed motion, or the motion of the camera
• non-photorealistic rendering — rendering of scenes in an artistic style, intended to look like a painting or drawing