4.1. RENDERINGAspects of Game Rendering

RENDERINGAspects of Game Rendering

Rendering

From Wikipedia: Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model. The model is a description of a 3D object typically containing geometry, viewpoint, texture, lighting and shading information.

Render Features

Features/techniques associated with rendering include:• shading — how the colour and brightness of a surface

varies with lighting • texture-mapping —applying detail to surfaces of a 3d

mesh• bump-mapping —simulating small-scale bumpiness on

surfaces • shadows — the effect of obstructing light • soft shadows — varying darkness caused by partially

obscured light sources • reflection — mirror-like or highly glossy reflection • transparency — transmission of light through solid

objects • translucency — highly scattered transmission of light

through solid objects • indirect illumination — surface illumination by light

reflected off other surfaces, rather than directly from a light source

(global illumination) • depth of field — objects appear blurry when distance

from the focal object• motion blur — objects appear blurry due to high-speed

relative motion• non-photorealistic rendering — rendering of scenes in

an artistic style, intended to look like a painting or drawing

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What we will consider

•Deferred Rendering•Lighting and Shadowing Approaches•Level of Detail•Billboarding• Water, Fluid Dynamics and

Cloth modelling•Instancing•Materials•Particle Effects•Displacement Mapping•Trees and Vegetation

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DIRECTED READINGDirected general reading concerning rendering

Directed

reading

Directed reading: General LODDirected

reading

• Read StarCraft II - Effects & Techniques – for information on rendering within StarCraft II• Read Finding Next Gen –

CryEngine 2 – for information on rendering within the CryEngine