A formalization and classification of global illumination methods

Abstract This report presents a classification of global illumination methods, focusing on the numerical algorithms used. The methods are grouped in several categories, and described by using a common theoretical formalism, which indicates the similarities and differences between them. This formalism is based on the notion of integral and projection operators, and Markov Chains. The Global Illumination problem and its solutions are presented based on these mathematical devices. A key element in this presentation is the inclusion of the notion of an observer as a projection operator which yields a finite representation of an image from the radiance function.

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