Quasi-Monte Carlo Image Synthesis in a Nutshell

Abstract

This self-contained tutorial surveys the state of the art in quasi-Monte Carlo rendering algorithms as used for image synthesis in the product design and movie industry. Based on the number theoretic constructions of low discrepancy sequences, it explains techniques to generate light transport paths to connect cameras and light sources. Summing up their contributions on the image plane results in a consistent numerical algorithm, which due to the superior uniformity of low discrepancy sequences often converges faster than its (pseudo-) random counterparts. In addition, its deterministic nature allows for simple and efficient parallelization while guaranteeing exact reproducibility. The underlying techniques of parallel quasi-Monte Carlo integro-approximation, the high speed generation of quasi-Monte Carlo points, treating weak singularities in a robust way, and high performance ray tracing have many applications outside computer graphics, too. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.