Combining analytic direct illumination and stochastic shadows

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a ratio estimator of the direct-illumination equation that allows us to combine analytic illumination techniques with stochastic raytraced shadows while maintaining correctness. Our main contribution is to show that the shadowed illumination can be split into the product of the unshadowed illumination and the illumination-weighted shadow. These terms can be computed separately - possibly using different techniques - without affecting the exactness of the final result given by their product.