Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does radiosity simulate light reflected from nearby objects?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
computer graphics
The Utah Teapot, a standard graphics image used to benchmark computer systems.
In computer graphics, radiosity simulates light by modeling it as energy rather than as individual rays. Unlike techniques that track specific light paths, radiosity accounts for the diffuse interreflection of light between surfaces.1
In this process, the scene is analyzed to determine how every element contributes to the illumination of others. Objects are illuminated not only by direct light sources, such as a lamp or the Sun, but also by light reflected from nearby surfaces. By calculating these energy exchanges, radiosity creates a more physically accurate representation of how light interacts with and bounces between objects in an environment.1