In article <chr### [at] netplexaussieorg>,
 Christopher James Huff <chr### [at] maccom> wrote:

> Well, the method I'm considering with my own raytracer is to just forbid 
> overlapping transparent objects. After a ray enters a shape, the tracer 
> will only test against that shape until it exits again. Things will be 
> arranged so that each shape only has one material, so it won't enter 
> through a surface with one material and exit through one with a 
> different material. Non-refracting objects would be exempt from this, it 
> would be very undesireable for media containers.

Another problem with this: transparent objects inside other transparent 
objects, like a glass marble in a pool of water. It would also make the 
pool of water more difficult.

I think the only solution is to do something like what POV does and just 
say that partially overlapping objects won't render correctly because it 
is impossible to say what the "correct" way is. A render-time warning 
might be helpful sometimes, but would usually be useless overhead.

-- 
Christopher James Huff <chr### [at] maccom>
POV-Ray TAG e-mail: chr### [at] tagpovrayorg
TAG web site: http://tag.povray.org/

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