GPU Gems 1——Chapter 18. Spatial BRDFs

The spatial bidirectional reflectance distribution function (SBRDF) represents the reflectance of a surface at each different point, for each incoming and each outgoing angle. This function represents the appearance of the surface in a very general, detailed way. This chapter discusses a compact SBRDF representation as well as rendering approaches for SBRDFs illuminated by discrete lights or by environment maps.

18.1 what is an SBRDF?
an SBRDF is a combination of texture mapping and the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). a texture map stores reflectance, or other attributes, that vary spatially over a 2D surface. a BRDF stores reflectance at a single point on a surface as it varies over all incoming and outgoing angles. see figure 18-1.

figure 18-1 the SBRDF domain

real surfaces usually have significantly variations, both spatially over the surface and angularly over all light and view directions. thus, to represent most surfaces more realistically, we should combine BRDFs with texture mapping. this combination is the SBRDF. see McAllister 2002 for more details.