improving interaction with radiosity-based lighting simulation programs
We describe the main algorithms used in an interactive lighting simulation program based on a two-pass extension of the radiosity method. The system allows interactive walk-through as other systems based on radiosity calculations. Moreover, it offers increased realism in the lighting effects by use of extended form factors which accounts for "specular reflection of diffuse light", fast production and display of progressively refined images by distribution of the calculations, good quality of the images in the early stages of the refinement by the use of "hardware light sources", "cheap" rendering of some of the specular highlights at any time by use of the built-in specular shading model, lighting modification (color, intensity of the light sources) by use of "negative light", fast simulation of mirror effects and interactive tools for controling the quality of the final image.
interaction radiosity lighting simulation program algorithm use extensibility method systems effect factor account reflectance diffuse product refine imaging imaging distributed quality hardware rendering timing model color tools image