Abstract:
This paper presents a BRDF model based on the analysis of the photon
collisions with the microfacets of the surface. The new model is not only
physically plausible, i.e. symmetric and energy conserving, but provides
other important features of real materials, including the off-specular
peak and the mirroring limit case. Using theoretical considerations the
reflected light is broken down to a specular component representing single
reflections and a matte component accounting for multiple reflections and
re-emissions of previously absorbed photons. Unlike most of the previous
models, the proportion of the matte and specular components is not constant
but varies with the viewing angle. In order to keep the resulting formulae
simple, several approximations are made, which are quite accurate but allow
for tabulation, fast calculation and even for accurate importance sampling.
Keywords:
BRDF, coupling specular and matte components, albedo, physically based
rendering, importance sampling.