A Progressive Radiosity Algorithm for Scenes Containing Curved Surfaces

Abstract

Based on the theory of light energy transfer between two differential diffuse surface areas, a generalized radiosity approach is presented. Unlike the conventional radiosity method, curved surfaces are subdivided into triangular surface patches, radiosity is assummed to be vary across each triangular surface patch. By adopting linear interpolation scheme over each triangular surface patch, we have established a complete set of approximated radiosity equations. Their unknowns are radiosities of differential surface areas located at all vertices of surface patches. The generalized radiosity equation has also been extended to non-diffuse environments. Theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate the great potential of this method,