Matthew Pace <mat### [at] lycoscom> wrote:
> I did not know, however, that a normal was 
> simply the way the reflection, although I guess it makes sense.

  Nope, it doesn't make sense because the reflected vector and the normal
vector are two completely different vectors.
  The reflected vector leaves the surface with the same angle as the
incoming ray. That is, if the incoming ray hit the surface at an angle
of 10 degrees, the reflected vector leaves the surface at an angle of 10
degrees.
  A normal vector is perpendicular (ie. at 90 degrees) to the surface and
completely independent of any incoming ray.

-- 
#macro M(A,N,D,L)plane{-z,-9pigment{mandel L*9translate N color_map{[0rgb x]
[1rgb 9]}scale<D,D*3D>*1e3}rotate y*A*8}#end M(-3<1.206434.28623>70,7)M(
-1<.7438.1795>1,20)M(1<.77595.13699>30,20)M(3<.75923.07145>80,99)// - Warp -

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