Hi,
I would like to use povray for a scientific application in which I need to
accurately (<=1%) calculate global illumination in simple, idealized
geometries with area sources. Does anybody know or have experience with how
accurate povray is? Are there any hidden simplifications that inhibit an
exact, physically correct calculation?

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bluefox wrote:
> Hi,
> I would like to use povray for a scientific application in which I need to
> accurately (<=1%) calculate global illumination in simple, idealized
> geometries with area sources. Does anybody know or have experience with how
> accurate povray is? Are there any hidden simplifications that inhibit an
> exact, physically correct calculation?

For what it tries to simulate (namely diffuse interreflection between 
lambertian surfaces) POV-Ray's radiosity system converges to the correct 
solution.  Like for all monte carlo simulation techniques error bounds 
can only be measured as statistical probabilities and errors of course 
do not only depend on the simulation parameters but on the scene as well.

Christoph

-- 
POV-Ray tutorials, include files, Landscape of the week:
http://www.imagico.de/ (Last updated 31 Oct. 2005)
MegaPOV with mechanics simulation: http://megapov.inetart.net/

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