Chapter 14. The Power of Photon Mapping

[ LiB ]

You have finally completed the algorithm and increased its performance by applying the KD Treenow it's time to reap the rewards of your hard work. Photon mapping includes many of the benefits that each of the previous rendering algorithms included. The goal here is to derive a new algorithm with all of the positive aspects and as few of the problems from the previous two algorithms as possible.

Let's take a look at the different lighting effects that can be simulated using photon mapping. Keep in mind that you can also mix photon mapping with ray tracing. Once you separate the light-ing effects between the two algorithms, you have a very good solution. Photon mapping is better for certain effects, whereas ray tracing is better for others. They, therefore, complement each other well.

NOTE

It's important to remember that dif fuse lighting on surfaces is called dif fuse interaction, whereas diffuse light transferred to other surfaces is called diffuse reflection.

[ LiB ]