> What kind of reflectance model(s) does POV use anyway?

Standard POV uses the lambertian model for diffuse (with a brilliance factor
for adjusting it in a non-realistic fashion) and two empirical specular
reflection models for highlights.  MegaPOV include the blinn macrofacet
model, or at least something like it.

> Where do I add code?

For adding your own models, there's lighting.c in the source.  If you want
to adjust highlights, look at do_phong and do_specular.  For diffuse
shading, there's do_diffuse.  These are used in the function diffuse().
Raytraced reflections are handled in reflect().  Any lighting model should
be easy to add if you have a reference on how it works.

> Is POV able to generate scientific-grade output?
> Is there FAQ or userlist for these kinds of applications?

Try the links pages at www.povray.org.  I seem to recall this kind of
application to be popular among many POV-Ray users.

-Mike

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