Here’s a link to a well-written and clear article on the theory involved and programming techniques behind global illumination/radiosity.
http://freespace.virgin.net/hugo.elias/radiosity/radiosity.htm
However, it concentrates more on the hemicube/patch method rather than the monte carlo method.
Hi WingedOne,
Here’s another relevant link http://www.debevec.org/Research/HDR/
High Dynamic Radiance is a science with 3D rendering potential, with similarities to radiosity, global illumination, and environment mapping.
I don’t know if there are any applications that employ it yet, although I have heard on the Rhino website forum and Renderosity forums that there are ways to “fake” it with some current applications.
Chris
Just FYI:
You mean High Dynamic Range, actually.
The idea is to provide the rendering pipeline with floating point data for representing intensity, which gives it more accuracy and allows for larger differences been light and dark.
Thalaxis,
Sounds like you have an understanding of HDR.
Thanks for the correction,
Chris