Photon Mapping

Photon mapping is a technique used in computer graphics to create realistic lighting effects. It works by simulating the way light interacts with surfaces: first, it emits many "photons" from light sources and traces their paths as they bounce around a scene. These photons gather information about where light hits surfaces and how it reflects or diffuses. Later, when rendering the scene, this stored data helps accurately calculate complex lighting effects like soft shadows, caustics, and global illumination. Overall, photon mapping allows for detailed, lifelike images by mimicking real-world light behavior.