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README: precise lineage — Whitted with stochastic sampling, not path tracing

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'Path tracing' in graphics literature means Monte Carlo solution of the
rendering equation, with random hemisphere sampling at every diffuse
surface and indirect light transport. card.cc has none of that — the
floor branch in S() returns immediately with a flat ambient term and
casts no new rays. What it actually does is Whitted-style recursive
specular reflection (mirrors only), with distribution-style stochastic
sampling layered on top for soft shadows, depth of field, and AA.

Group the stochastic features (soft shadows, DOF, AA) under that
qualifier; keep mirror reflections, checker floor, and sky gradient
as separate non-stochastic features.
This commit is contained in:
Ole-Morten Duesund 2026-05-28 14:06:55 +02:00
commit fc752cfa0c
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README.md
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# card-raytracer
A study of [Andrew Kensler's "business card raytracer"][aek] — a complete
recursive path-tracer with soft shadows, depth of field, anti-aliasing,
reflections, a checker floor, and a sky gradient, all crammed into a
single C++ source file small enough to print on the back of a business
card.
**Whitted-style raytracer with stochastic sampling** for soft shadows,
depth of field, and anti-aliasing, plus mirror reflections, a checker
floor, and a sky gradient, all crammed into a single C++ source file
small enough to print on the back of a business card.
> **`card.cc` is exactly 1337 bytes.** Yes, **leet**. Verify it yourself:
>