[comp.graphics] Ray Tracing Novice Needs Your Help

dmg@ssc-vax.UUCP (David Geary) (12/08/88)

  I'm interested in writing a ray-tracer.  Unfortunately, I know
next to nothing about ray tracing.  
  What I'd really like is to have the source in C to a *simple*
ray-tracer - one that I could port to my Amiga without too much 
difficulty.
  Secondly, I'd appreciate pointers to books and papers that
could get a total novice like me started. 
  If anyone could send either of the above, I'd be greatly
indebted.
  Thanx.
-- 
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~ David Geary, Boeing Aerospace,               ~ 
~ #define    Seattle     RAIN                  ~
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jms@antares.UUCP (joe smith) (12/10/88)

In article <2399@ssc-vax.UUCP> dmg@ssc-vax.UUCP (David Geary) writes:
>  What I'd really like is to have the source in C to a *simple*
>ray-tracer - one that I could port to my Amiga without too much 
>difficulty.
>~ David Geary, Boeing Aerospace,               ~ 

My standard answer to this question when it comes up is to locate the
May/June 1987 issue of Amiga World.  It's the one that has the ray-traced
robot juggler on the cover.  The article "Graphic Scene Simulations"
is a great overview of the subject, and it includes the program listing
in C.  (Well, most of the program.  Details such as inputting the coordinates
of all the objects are omitted.)
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markv@uoregon.uoregon.edu (Mark VandeWettering) (12/11/88)

In article <2399@ssc-vax.UUCP> dmg@ssc-vax.UUCP (David Geary) writes:
>  What I'd really like is to have the source in C to a *simple*
>ray-tracer - one that I could port to my Amiga without too much 
>difficulty.
>~ David Geary, Boeing Aerospace,               ~ 

Well, you could always use the MTV raytracer :-)

Actually, I am going to plug another person's raytracer, since mine is
getting too large and complicated for novices to understand.
George Kyriazis wrote a good, clean and simple raytracer and posted the
source to it here awhile ago.  A more recent version with additions for
distributed raytracing is available for anonymous ftp from 
drizzle.cs.uoregon.edu.  Both this version and older versions (which may
be better if you are just learning) are available by anonymous ftp
from life.pawl.rpi.edu.

Hope this helps.

Mark VandeWettering