Equiprawn wrote:
> 
> So I was wondering - you it be possible to add this kind of feature to a
> raytracer? Would it just be an addition to the light source code (like some
> kind of colourmap, except for frequencies)? Or would it be necessary to
> specify aswell in textures how they should react to different frequencies of
> light? Would it be difficult to add this kind of thing?
> 

The short answer is "Yes, it is possible".

Since visible light, by way of physics, is a continuum of wavelengths in
a certain range, you could conceivable define the spectrum for each
light source, and define the light reflective/absorptive properties of
each material using another spectrum.  This would more accurately model
the interaction of a physical object with physical light.

However, this would probably require a little more overhead in almost
all of the raytracer's calculations.  It is also much more simple when
working with Computer Graphics to define the color using a method that
is directly related to the way color is already represented on the
screen.

Try translating the spectrum that would be produced by such a
calculation (bouncing one spectrum of light off the
reflective/absorptive spectrum of the object) into a color to be
represented on the screen of your computer.  Another set of calcualtions
to be performed by the raytracer.

So, while it is possible, it may not be very practical.

Randy

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