An accurate illumination model for objects coated with multilayer films

This paper proposes an accurate illumination model for rendering objects co ated with multilayer films. Optical phenomena of multilayer films are cause d by reflection, refraction, interference, and absorption of light inside e ach layer of the multiple films, and such physical phenomena are related to each other in a complicated manner. The proposed method calculates composi te reflectance and transmittance of multilayer films, taking into account a ll the physical phenomena described above, and visualizes accurately the op tical phenomena caused by the multilayer films. The illumination model prop osed in the paper can handle both smooth surfaces and locally smooth rough surfaces. Several examples of objects coated with various kinds of films de monstrate the usefulness of the proposed method. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.