A Fast and Accurate Light Reflection Model
		Uniform diffuse component
		Approximating the Distribution Function

The Fully-Assembled Reflection Model

Adding the three components together gives us the total reflected radiance dI_r. The interactive illustration below shows how dI_r varies with all the geometric and physical parameters. The dashed semicircle corresponds to 100% Lambertian reflection of the incident beam. The dashed line to the right indicates the specular direction for the mean surface.

 
Figure 15: Interactive display of full light reflection model

The previous interactive figures displayed light reflection distributions in the plane of incidence (i.e., the plane containing the surface normal and the incident light vector). Figure 16 displays two views of an animated, three-dimensional light reflection distribution. Note that the directional diffuse reflection component generally spreads light more narrowly outside of the plane of incidence than it does within the plane of incidence.

 
Figure 16: 3D animated light reflection distribution. Single click the figure to start the animation. Press the control key and click the figure to start the audio.
[Use the QuickTime controls to play the animation.]

		A Fast and Accurate Light Reflection Model
		Uniform diffuse component
		Approximating the Distribution Function

Last modified: Mon Sep 5 22:09:18 EDT 2011

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