Method and system for efficient modeling of specular reflection

摘要

Systems, methods, and apparatus allow for the real-time rendering of specular effects within a three-dimensional model. At least one implementation allows a user to create a map that comprises a representation of at least one light source within a three-dimensional model. Furthermore, at least one implementation casts a viewpoint ray to an object surface point, wherein the viewpoint ray comprises a ray extending from a user perspective within the three-dimensional model. Additionally, at least one implementation casts a reflection ray of the viewpoint ray. Further, at least one implementation identifies an intersection point between the reflection ray and the map. Still further, at least one implementation calculates the specular reflection of the object surface point based on the intersection point.

主权项

1. In a computerized architectural design environment in which a design program is loaded into memory and processed at a central processing unit, a computer-implemented method for rendering a specular effect within a three-dimensional model, the method comprising:
creating a map that comprises a representation of at least one light source within the three-dimensional model, wherein:
the at least one light source represented in the map is represented by at least one specular intensity gradient that comprises an attenuating gradient that is determined at least in part by a particular reflective surface type, andthe map comprises two or more specular intensity gradients with different rates of attenuation; casting a viewpoint ray to an object surface point, wherein the viewpoint ray comprises a ray extending from a user perspective within the three-dimensional model; casting a reflection ray of the viewpoint ray; identifying an intersection point between the reflection ray and the map, wherein the intersection point comprises a particular specular intensity gradient value based upon at least one of the two or more specular intensity gradients that is determined at least in part by the particular reflective surface type; calculating a specular effect on the object surface point based on the intersection point between the reflection ray and the map, wherein the specular effect is calculated at least in part based upon the particular specular intensity gradient value; and displaying the map that comprises the representation of the at least one light source within the three-dimensional model.