Photorealism

Photorealistic image generated by computer (render) showing a room, modeled in 3D Studio Max.

Photorealism is the quality of a computer-generated image that tries to imitate the images generated by cameras through complex calculations and mathematical algorithms that simulate the effects/defects that light (halos, flashes) the shadows (shadow coloring, diffusion), textures (roughness, gloss, reflections, refraction), and radiosity (ambient light coloring) produce in the resulting images.

The main algorithms used today are two, based on different methods:

• Raytracing (raywork): It is based on point sampling, using statistical methods such as Monte Carlo and Cuasi Monte Carlo methods.
• Radiosity: Use numerical methods to approach in successive iterations the calculation of the radiance on the surfaces of the scene.

Photorealism is increasingly used in video game graphics engines, for example: Far Cry 4, Far Cry 5 Battlefield V, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Abandoned, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, The Last of Us Part II, Red Dead Redemption 2, among others.

The techniques that simulate photographic realism in video games are being perfected more and more, and it is expected that in about ten years, video games will reach absolute photorealism.