Photorealistic rendering

Light reflection, shading, and surface texture read as realistic.

Visual traits

• Continuous shading
• Material-dependent reflection
• Spatial depth

Expected changes

• Material differences are more likely to be legible
• Light and shading are more likely to appear continuous

Definition

It organizes surface reflection, shading, texture, and spatial cues to make an image read as photographed. It differs from a particular rendering method or an actual photographic record.

In more detail

It specifies appearance without choosing subject, composition, era, or narrative. Camera, lighting, materials, and post-processing can be specified separately when needed.

Includes

• Photograph-like light and material appearance

Excludes

• A claim that an image is a photograph
• A requirement for ray tracing

What this does not imply

• A real person or location
• A particular camera or lens
• A particular render engine

Variability

The strength of photographic appearance varies with lighting, materials, and requested detail.

Usage

• Organize the appearance of light and materials
• Specify subject and composition separately

Distinguish similar expressions

• Add a rendering-method direction when a method is required

Typical uses

• Show product or human surfaces realistically
• Depict a lighted space

Possible failure modes

• Surfaces become uniform and artificial
• Lighting and shading relate unnaturally