ABSTRACT
When it comes to complex lighting effects, the scanlinerenderer can become a little restrictive. Global illumination requires the separate calculation of a radiosity solution, which takes time, but is at least possible. If caustic effects are required, the scanline has nothing to offer and a creative fake must be found. However, mental ray, which is included with 3ds Max as a second renderer, provides a solution for generating not just caustics, but other physically-based lighting effects like GI, as well as area lights and useful methods like ambient occlusion.
