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Phong Shading
In 3D graphics, the polygons that make up the graphics need
to be shaded. Phong shading is one of the more sophisticated
techniques for doing this. Phong shading rendering algorithm
calculates a color for every pixel on an object's surface. The
path that the light follows is not calculated in Phong shading,
as it is in ray tracing.
Pixel
Short for Picture Element. In a raster grid, the pixel is the
smallest unit that can be addressed and given a color or
intensity.
Polygon
Three-sided (triangle) or four-sided (Quadrilateral) or
occasionally more-sided simple geometric objects. A complex
3D object is composed into many polygons to allow regular
processing of the data and hardware acceleration of that
processing.
Ray Tracing
Ray tracing requires enormous computational resources, and is
supported by only the most advanced graphics systems. Ray
tracing software works by simulating the path of a single light
ray as it would be absorbed or reflected by various objects in
the image. To work properly, the artist must specify parameters
of the light source (intensity, color etc.) as well as all the
objects (how reflective or absorbent the materials are).
Rasterization
The process of transforming a 3D image into a set of colored
pixels.
Rendering
A term which is often used as a synonym for rasterization, but
which can also refer to the whole process of creating a 3D
image.