Patent ID: 8259110

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: for each of a subset of points on a surface in a scene: calculating direct lighting information and occlusion information for the point, wherein the calculated occlusion information for the point indicates whether the point is fully illuminated, partially illuminated, or fully occluded by an area light source of the scene; and storing the calculated direct lighting information and occlusion information for the point; for each point on the surface in the scene not in the subset, and for which direct lighting information and occlusion information has not been stored: determining, from the stored occlusion information for one or more other points, if the point is either fully occluded or fully illuminated by the area light source; if said determining indicates that the point is either fully occluded or fully illuminated by the area light source, obtaining direct lighting information and occlusion information for the point from the stored direct lighting information and occlusion information; if said determining indicates that the point is neither fully occluded nor fully illuminated by the area light source, calculating direct lighting information and occlusion information for the point; and storing the direct lighting information and occlusion information for the point; and rendering the scene in accordance with the stored direct lighting information for the points in the scene.