In the real world, there are optical media that are difficult or impossible to simulate with classical real-time rendering methods. One of such media types is a gradient medium, in which light rays propagate along a curve. However, with advances in the capabilities of the real-time computer graphics rendering hardware, more sophisticated rendering algorithms, e.g., rendering based on the ray tracing technologies which uses a physically correct model of the light propagation and transformation, are becoming more widely used to achieve more realistic images. In the scope of the current article, the authors researched the capabilities of the current accelerated ray tracing-based realistic rendering technologies to perform the physically correct rendering of scenes containing the gradient medium. The presented method can operate in realtime which was proven by presenting the test images and aminations acquired from the implementation of the designed realistic rendering method of the gradient media with NVIDIA OptiX.

Rendering, ray tracing, gradient media, NVIDIA OptiX

Riabov Sergei,  ,  orcid.org/0000-0001-7559-0015,  ITMO University

Zhdanov Andrey,  ,  orcid.org/0000-0002-2569-1982,  ITMO University

Zhdanov Dmitry,  ,  orcid.org/0000-0001-7346-8155,  ITMO University

Valiev Ildar Vagizovich,  ,  orcid.org/0000-0003-2937-8480,  KIAM RAS