February 9, 1991

Here is the example image I promised you.  It isn't really
smooth because it was created at 16 bits at 512x486 and scaled
up.  If I had created the image 1024x768 24 bits and scaled
downward to 640x480 16 bits, it would have looked much smoother.
 
It shows how Topas uses Environment and reflection maps to
simulate some of the effects that normally require ray-tracing.
 
A reflection map is simply a picture that is used to be mapped
transparently to the image to give it that reflective look, because
you need to reflect something in order to look reflective!
 
An Environment map is a a reflectance map image that is created
as a sub-process by the program.  The program looks at the scene
from an objects point of view, builds a 3D model from that point
of view based on the planar or curved nature of the object that the
map is being created for, and renders an image that is then used as a
reflectance map for that object upon final render.

As you can see, there is no refractance effect in the glass sphere
so it ends up looking more like a soap bubble than a crystal ball!
 
Steve Kennedy, PROGRAFX of Oregon
