<p>Gobal illumination, radiosity, etc is not a mutually exclusive set with using a fill light to adjust the feeling. Sometimes the artist can do wonders with a few well placed lights.</p>

<p>So yes they are used, each game and situation is different. Perhaps they are just going for a unrealistic mood or the artist wants to tweak the result a bit.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-13T06:13:54.857Z
2015-09-13T06:13:54.857Z
joojaa
<p>I thought of this after my <a href="https://computergraphics.stackexchange.com/questions/337/radiosity-vs-ray-tracing">radiosity vs ray tracing question</a>.</p>

<p>A radiosity algorithm seems to require <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiosity_%28computer_graphics%29" rel="nofollow noreferrer">increased calculations because it's viewpoint independent</a> and therefore, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_radiosity" rel="nofollow noreferrer">false radiosity</a> was born (at least it's the way it was explained). It is mentioned that in order to simulate radiosity, changes were done directly in texture maps (in PS for example) or omni-type lights are placed where radiosity effects occur.</p>

<p>I wonder if false radiosity is still used nowadays (I'm assuming this may happen more often in games development). If so, are these techniques currently used or are there others methods to achieve the same purpose? Any examples would be a plus.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-25T18:38:31.753Z
I don't have a citation, but if I recall correctly Monster's University was the first Pixar movie to move towards a near-full radiosity solution instead of doing lots of artist controlled "False Radiosity," so it would certainly seem like it's still used.
porglezomp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-26T15:41:45.873Z
Games use fake fill lights all the time. One good example I know of is Tomb Raider (2013). There was an awesome presentation about it at GDC 2013. http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1017934/Casting-a-New-Light-on
RichieSams
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-13T07:13:11.773Z
@porglezomp Mostly marketing speak, but http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/21/4446606/how-pixar-changed-the-way-light-works-for-monsters-university
Rotem
<radiosity>
Are there specific techniques for generating False Radiosity in surfaces?
Armfoot
# Are there specific techniques for generating False Radiosity in surfaces?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-08-25)

I thought of this after my [radiosity vs ray tracing question](https://computergraphics.stackexchange.com/questions/337/radiosity-vs-ray-tracing).

A radiosity algorithm seems to require [increased calculations because it's viewpoint independent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiosity_%28computer_graphics%29) and therefore, [false radiosity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_radiosity) was born (at least it's the way it was explained). It is mentioned that in order to simulate radiosity, changes were done directly in texture maps (in PS for example) or omni-type lights are placed where radiosity effects occur.

I wonder if false radiosity is still used nowadays (I'm assuming this may happen more often in games development). If so, are these techniques currently used or are there others methods to achieve the same purpose? Any examples would be a plus.

**Tags:** radiosity

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I don't have a citation, but if I recall correctly Monster's University was the first Pixar movie to move towards a near-full radiosity solution instead of doing lots of artist controlled "False Radiosity," so it would certainly seem like it's still used.  
> **username_2**: Games use fake fill lights all the time. One good example I know of is Tomb Raider (2013). There was an awesome presentation about it at GDC 2013. http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1017934/Casting-a-New-Light-on  
> **username_3**: @username_1 Mostly marketing speak, but http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/21/4446606/how-pixar-changed-the-way-light-works-for-monsters-university  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-09-13. Score: 1

Gobal illumination, radiosity, etc is not a mutually exclusive set with using a fill light to adjust the feeling. Sometimes the artist can do wonders with a few well placed lights.

So yes they are used, each game and situation is different. Perhaps they are just going for a unrealistic mood or the artist wants to tweak the result a bit.


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