Radiosity and Relaxation Methods: Progressive Refinement is Southwell Relaxation

Report ID: TR-408-93
Author: Slusallek, Philipp / Cohen, Michael F. / Gortler, Steven J.
Date: 1993-02-00
Pages: 24
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Abstract:

The radiosity method for realistic image synthesis has been described in the computer graphics literature since 1984. This paper discusses the various algorithms which have been developed for solving the radiosity problem and places them in the context of the literature on solving systems of linear equations. The progressive radiosity method developed in 1988 is shown to be equivalent to a numerical technique known as Southwell iteration. A proof of convergence for this method when used for the radiosity problem is presented in the appendix. A new overshooting (similar to over relaxation) method is developed as a means of accelerating the convergence of the iterative radiosity methods.