Ray Tracing
The Physics of Light
in Digital Worlds

Discover how computers simulate the complex behavior of light to create breathtakingly realistic graphics in games and movies.

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raytracer.js
Rendering... 42 rays traced

What is Ray Tracing?

Ray tracing is a rendering technique that simulates the way light interacts with objects to produce photorealistic images.

Light Simulation

Mimics real-world physics by tracing the path of light as it bounces off surfaces, refracts through materials, and creates shadows.

Realistic Effects

Naturally creates accurate reflections, refractions, soft shadows, ambient occlusion, and global illumination.

Computationally Intensive

Requires significant processing power as each pixel may need hundreds or thousands of light path calculations.

How Ray Tracing Works

The step-by-step process that transforms mathematical calculations into stunning visuals.

1. Camera Setup

A virtual camera is positioned in the 3D scene, defining the viewpoint and perspective for rendering.

2. Ray Generation

For each pixel on the screen, a primary ray is cast from the camera through the pixel into the scene.

3. Intersection Testing

The ray checks for intersections with objects in the scene. The closest intersection point is found.

4. Shading Calculation

At the intersection point, secondary rays are spawned (reflection, refraction, shadow rays) to determine lighting.

5. Color Determination

The final pixel color is computed based on material properties and all gathered lighting information.

Interactive Ray Tracing Demo

Explore how different parameters affect the rendered result in real-time.

Simulation Controls

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Statistics

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Real-World Applications

Where ray tracing technology is making an impact today.

Video Games

Video Games

Modern game engines like Unreal Engine and Unity now support real-time ray tracing, bringing cinematic quality to interactive experiences.

Requires RTX GPUs for real-time performance
Film Production

Film Production

Ray tracing has been used in CGI for decades. Pixar's RenderMan and other production renderers rely on ray tracing for photorealistic results.

Can take hours per frame for maximum quality
Architecture

Architecture

Architects use ray-traced renderings to visualize lighting conditions and material appearances in building designs before construction.

Accurate daylight simulation
Product Design

Product Design

Industrial designers use ray tracing to create realistic product visualizations for marketing and prototyping purposes.

Material accuracy is critical

The Future of Ray Tracing

As hardware continues to advance, ray tracing is becoming more accessible. What was once limited to high-end film production is now available in real-time for games and interactive applications. The pursuit of photorealism continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in computer graphics.

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