Illumination models for generating images of curved surfaces (Q1109501)

So far illumination models have often been examined intuitively by their shading effects. A way is needed to illustrate the shading functions so that the shading effects of the functions can be predicted, the comparisons among different functions are facilitated, and their validity can be checked on the basis of theoretical and experimental results of optics. This paper suggests such a way to illustrate the shading models that are in common use. A range of models is studied, from the simplest to the most sophisticated. A comparison is made for those models that are similar.