ABSTRACT
Radiosity models the transfer of light between surfaces. Recursive ray tracing also models light bouncing off surfaces, but ray tracing makes several simplifying assumptions that often give scenes a harsh, unnatural look. For example, ray tracing assumes that all light sources are point sources and that the ambient light is constant throughout the scene. These assumptions lead to stark images with sharp shadows. In contrast, radiosity models all surfaces as both emitters and reflectors. This approach softens the shadows and provides a more realistic model for ambient light.
