Reflection in computer graphics

Computer graphics

Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....

 is used to emulate reflective

Reflection (physics)

Reflection is the change in direction of a wavefront at an interface between two differentmedia so that the wavefront returns into the medium from which it originated. Common examples include the reflection of light, sound and water waves...

 objects like mirror

Mirror

A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection...

s and shiny surfaces.

Reflection is accomplished in a ray trace renderer by following a ray from the eye to the mirror and then calculating where it bounces from, and continuing the process until no surface is found, or a non-reflective surface is found. Reflection on a shiny surface like wood or tile can add to the photorealistic effects of a 3D rendering.

• Polished - A Polished Reflection is an undisturbed reflection, like a mirror or chrome.
• Blurry - A Blurry Reflection means that tiny random bumps on the surface of the material cause the reflection to be blurry.
• Metallic - A reflection is Metallic if the highlights and reflections retain the color of the reflective object.
• Glossy - This term can be misused. Sometimes it is a setting which is the opposite of Blurry. (When "Glossiness" has a low value, the reflection is blurry.) However, some people use the term "Glossy Reflection" as a synonym for "Blurred Reflection." Glossy used in this context means that the reflection is actually blurred.

Polished or Mirror reflection

Mirrors are usually almost 100% reflective.

Metallic Reflection

Normal, (non metallic), objects reflect light and colors in the original color of the object being reflected.

Metallic objects reflect lights and colors altered by the color of the metallic object itself.

Blurry Reflection

Many materials are imperfect reflectors, where the reflections are blurred to various
degrees due to surface roughness that scatters the rays of the reflections.

Glossy Reflection

Fully glossy reflection, shows highlights from light sources, but does not show a clear reflection from objects.

See also

• Ray tracing
• Rendering (computer graphics)
  Rendering (computer graphics)
  Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model , by means of computer programs. A scene file contains objects in a strictly defined language or data structure; it would contain geometry, viewpoint, texture, lighting, and shading information as a description of the virtual scene...
  
  
• Specular reflection
  Specular reflection
  Specular reflection is the mirror-like reflection of light from a surface, in which light from a single incoming direction is reflected into a single outgoing direction...
  
   (optics)
• Wet floor effect
  Wet floor effect
  Wet floor effect is a graphic effects technique popular in conjunction Web 2.0 style pages, particularly in logos. The effect can be done manually or an auxiliary tool can be installed to create the effect automatically...