James T. Kajiya

James T. Kajiya was a computer graphics researcher known for his groundbreaking work on realistic rendering techniques. He developed mathematical models that simulate how light interacts with surfaces, allowing digital images to look more lifelike. His most famous contribution, the rendering equation, provides a comprehensive way to understand and compute the way light reflects, refracts, and diffuses in images. Kajiya’s work is fundamental in creating realistic visual effects in movies, video games, and virtual reality, significantly advancing how computers generate believable images of the real world.