Topic 5 – Rendering Concepts (All)

What is rendering?

The process of generating an image from a model by computer programs.

What are the two approaches to rendering?

1. Start from geometry; 2. Start from pixels.

What does ray tracing simulate?

The effects of light as it interacts with virtual objects, producing highly realistic images.

What are the types of lighting mentioned in the lecture?

Point lights, spotlights, linear lights, area lights, infinite lights, and ambient lights.

What does environment mapping reflect?

The environment surrounding the reflective surfaces.

What technique considers both direct and indirect illumination?

Global illumination.

What is the purpose of bump maps?

To simulate bumps or wrinkles on a surface without geometric modifications.

What is the role of surface normals in shading?

To determine the orientation of a surface, affecting how light interacts with it.

What is ambient occlusion?

A shading method that recreates the effect of light blocked by surrounding objects.

What is the advantage of non-photorealistic rendering?

It enables a wide variety of expressive styles for digital art.

What is a texture map?

A graphic image applied to a 3D model's surface to give it color and detail.

What is the role of shaders in rendering?

Shaders are programs that calculate the final color of pixels based on various inputs like light and texture.

What is rasterization?

The process of converting vector graphics into a raster image (pixels) for display.

What is the difference between hard shadows and soft shadows?

Hard shadows have a sharp edge, while soft shadows have a gradual transition between light and dark areas.

What does anti-aliasing do?

Anti-aliasing smooths out jagged edges in images, making them appear more fluid and natural.

What is the purpose of depth buffering in rendering?

Depth buffering is used to keep track of the distances of objects from the viewer, ensuring proper rendering order.

What does texture filtering do?

Texture filtering improves the quality of textures when they are displayed at different sizes or angles.

What are emissive materials?

Materials that emit light, creating self-illuminating effects in 3D rendering.

What is polygon count?

The number of polygons in a 3D model, impacting its detail and rendering performance.

What is the process of compositing in rendering?

Compositing is the technique of combining visual elements from different sources into a single image.

What is the role of shaders in computer graphics?

Shaders determine the final appearance of pixels by calculating color and effects based on light and surface properties.

What are specular highlights?

Bright spots on a surface where light reflects directly back to the viewer, enhancing realism.

What is a frame buffer?

A memory buffer that stores image data for a single frame before it is displayed.

What are particle systems in rendering?

A technique used to simulate fuzzy phenomena, like smoke, fire, or rain, using a collection of particles.

What is tessellation?

The process of subdividing a 3D model into finer pieces to increase its detail.

What is a lightmap?

A texture that stores lighting information for surfaces to achieve a high level of detail in lighting without complex calculations.

What is the use of Normal Mapping?

To add detailed surface texture without increasing polygon count by altering surface normals.

What are the types of rendering algorithms?

Scanline rendering, ray casting, ray tracing, and path tracing.

What is screen-space reflections?

A technique to approximate reflections based on what is currently visible on the screen.

What is the significance of frame rate in rendering?

Frame rate measures how many frames are rendered in a second, affecting motion smoothness.

What is ambient light in rendering?

A soft light that is evenly distributed in a scene, not coming from any specific direction.

What is the purpose of light sources in a 3D scene?

To illuminate objects and affect their appearance based on their material properties and geometry.

What does the term 'frame rate' refer to?

The number of frames rendered or displayed in one second, affecting animation smoothness.

What is shadow mapping?

A technique used to add shadows to 3D graphics by rendering a scene from the light's perspective.

What is a diffuse material?

A material that scatters light evenly in all directions, creating a matte appearance.

What is a shader language?

A programming language used to write shaders, such as GLSL or HLSL.

What role do tessellators play in rendering?

They break down complex shapes into simpler polygons to enhance detail.

What is occlusion culling?

The process of determining which objects are visible to the camera to improve rendering efficiency.

What are the effects of texture resolution on rendering?

Higher resolution textures provide more detail but require more memory and processing power.

What is a bloom effect?

A post-processing effect that creates a haze around bright areas in an image, enhancing realism.