Radiosity (computer Graphics)
Radiosity is a global illumination algorithm used in 3D computer graphics rendering. Radiosity is an application of the finite element method to solving the rendering equation for scenes with purely diffuse surfaces. Unlike Monte Carlo algorithms (such as path tracing) which handle all types of light paths, typical radiosity methods only account for paths which leave a light source and are reflected diffusely some number of times (possibly zero) before hitting the eye. Such paths are represented as "LD*E". Radiosity calculations are viewpoint independent which increases the computations involved, but makes them useful for all viewpoints.
Radiosity methods were first developed in about 1950 in the engineering field of heat transfer. They were later refined specifically for application to the problem of rendering computer graphics in 1984 by researchers at Cornell University.
Notable commercial radiosity engines are Enlighten by Geomerics, as seen in titles such as Battlefield 3, Need for Speed: The Run and others, Lightscape (now incorporated into the Autodesk 3D Studio Max internal render engine), form•Z RenderZone Plus (by AutoDesSys, Inc.), the built in render engine in LightWave 3D and ElAS (Electric Image Animation System).
Read more about Radiosity (computer Graphics): Visual Characteristics, Overview of The Radiosity Algorithm, Mathematical Formulation, Reducing Computation Time, Advantages, Limitations, Confusion About Terminology