A comprehensive physical model for light reflection

ABSTRACT

A new general reflectance model for computer graphics is presented. The model is based on physical optics and describes specular, directional diffuse, and uniform diffuse reflection by a surface. The reflected light pattern depends on wavelength, incidence angle, two surface roughness parameters, and surface refractive index. The formulation is self consistent in terms of polarization, surface roughness, masking/shadowing, and energy. The model applies to a wide range of materials and surface finishes and provides a smooth transition from diffuse-like to specular reflection as the wavelength and incidence angle are increased or the surface roughness is decreased. The model is analytic and suitable for Computer Graphics applications. Predicted reflectance distributions compare favorably with experiment. The model is applied to metallic, nonmetallic, and plastic materials, with smooth and rough surfaces.

REFERENCES

• 1: Bahar, E. and S. Chakrabarti. "Full wave theory applied to computer-aided graphics for 3-D objects," IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, 7(7), 1987, pages 46--60.
• 2: Bahar, Ezekiel. "Review of the full wave solutions for rough surface scattering and depolarization," Journal of Geophysical Research, May 1987, pages 5209-5227.
• 3: Bass, EG. and I.M. Fuks. Wave Scattering from Statistically Rough Surfaces, Pergamon Press, 1979.
• 4: Beckmann, Petr. "Shadowing of Random Rough Surfaces," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, May 1965, pages 384-388.
• 5: Beckmann, Petr and Andr6 Spizzichino. The Scattering of Electromagnetic Waves from Rough Surfaces, Pergamon Press, 1963.
• 6: James F. Blinn, Models of light reflection for computer synthesized pictures, Proceedings of the 4th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques, p.192-198, July 20-22, 1977, San Jose, California
• 7: Brockelman, R. A. and T. Hagfors. "Note on the Effect of Shadowing on the Backscattering of Waves from a Random Rough Surfaces," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, AP-14(5), September 1966, pages 621-629.
• 8: R. L. Cook , K. E. Torrance, A Reflectance Model for Computer Graphics, ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG), v.1 n.1, p.7-24, Jan. 1982 [doi>10.1145/357290.357293]
• 9: Feng, Xiaofen. Comparison of methods for generation of absolute reflectam'e factors for BRDF studies, Master's thesis, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1990.
• 10: Hering, R.G. and T.E Smith. "Apparent radiation properties of a rough surface," Application to Thermal Design of Spacecraft, 23, 1970, pages 337-361.
• 11: Himlan, Theodore H., Michael C. Monks, Stephan H. Westin, Donald P. Greenberg, and Kenneth E. Torrance. "Physical measurement Techniques for Improving and Evaluating Computer Graphic Simulations.," 1991. (To be published.)
• 12: Jackson, John D. Classical Electrodynamics, John Wiley & Son Inc., 1975.
• 13: Bui Tuong Phong, Illumination for computer generated pictures, Communications of the ACM, v.18 n.6, p.311-317, June 1975 [doi>10.1145/360825.360839]
• 14: Siegel, Robert and John R. Howell. Thermal Radiation Heat Transfer, McGraw-Hill book Company, 2nd edition, 1981.
• 15: Françis X. Sillion , James R. Arvo , Stephen H. Westin , Donald P. Greenberg, A global illumination solution for general reflectance distributions, ACM SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics, v.25 n.4, p.187-196, July 1991
• 16: Smith, Bruce G. "Geometrical Shadowing of a Random Rough Surface," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, AP-15(5), September 1967, pages 668-671.
• 17: Smith, T.E and K.E. Nichols. "Effects of polarization on bidirectional reflectance of a one-dimensional randomly rough surface," Spacecraft Radiative Transfer and Temperature Control, 83, 198 !, pages 3-21.
• 18: Stogryn, Alex. "'Electromagnetic Scattering From Rough, Finilely Conducting Surfaces," Radio Science, 2(4), 1967, pages 415--428.
• 19: Torrance, K.E. and E.M. Sparrow. "Off-Specular Peaks in the Directional Distribution of Reflected Thermal Radiation," Journal of Heat Transfer- Transactions of the ASME, May 1966, pages 223-230.
• 20: Torrance, K.E. and E.M. Sparrow. "Theory for Off-Specular Reflection from Roughened Surfaces," Journal of the Optical Society of America, 57(9), September 1967, pages 1105-1114.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  J. Computer Applications
  J.2 PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
      Subjects: Physics

Additional Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.7 Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism
          Subjects: Raytracing; Radiosity

General Terms:
Algorithms, Experimentation, Theory

Keywords:
comparison with experiment, reflectance model, specular and diffuse reflection