RIB (RenderMan Interface Bytestream)

RIB (RenderMan Interface Bytestream) is a standardized digital format used to describe the detailed instructions for creating a computer-generated image or scene. It acts as a communication protocol between a scene description program and a rendering engine, translating complex 3D models, lighting, and shading into a structured stream of data. This allows artists and developers to precisely control how images are generated, ensuring consistency and flexibility in rendering visual effects, animations, and visualizations across different software and hardware platforms. In essence, RIB is the "language" that directs how a computer transforms data into realistic images.