Ray Tracing

Ray tracing is a rendering method that simulates how light interacts with objects to produce realistic images.

Ray tracing is a rendering method that simulates how light interacts with objects to produce realistic images.

Feb 2, 2026

Feb 2, 2026

Overview

Ray tracing calculates image brightness and color by simulating light rays traveling through a scene. The algorithm traces how light reflects, refracts, and casts shadows.

Realism

This approach produces highly realistic lighting effects, including accurate reflections, global illumination, and soft shadows.

Tradeoffs

Ray tracing is computationally intensive, making it historically slower than rasterization, though modern GPUs now support real-time ray tracing.

Professional Use

Ray tracing is widely used in cinematic VFX, architectural visualization, and high-end rendering.

Overview

Ray tracing calculates image brightness and color by simulating light rays traveling through a scene. The algorithm traces how light reflects, refracts, and casts shadows.

Realism

This approach produces highly realistic lighting effects, including accurate reflections, global illumination, and soft shadows.

Tradeoffs

Ray tracing is computationally intensive, making it historically slower than rasterization, though modern GPUs now support real-time ray tracing.

Professional Use

Ray tracing is widely used in cinematic VFX, architectural visualization, and high-end rendering.

Overview

Ray tracing calculates image brightness and color by simulating light rays traveling through a scene. The algorithm traces how light reflects, refracts, and casts shadows.

Realism

This approach produces highly realistic lighting effects, including accurate reflections, global illumination, and soft shadows.

Tradeoffs

Ray tracing is computationally intensive, making it historically slower than rasterization, though modern GPUs now support real-time ray tracing.

Professional Use

Ray tracing is widely used in cinematic VFX, architectural visualization, and high-end rendering.

Ray tracing simulates real light physics for photorealistic rendering.

Creative Pass keeps everything you need right in your pocket—ready when creativity strikes.

Creative Pass keeps everything you need right in your pocket—ready when creativity strikes.

Creative Pass keeps everything you need right in your pocket—ready when creativity strikes.