A BRDF (bidirectional reflectance distribution function) describes how a surface reflects light — specifically, how much light arriving from one direction is reflected toward a viewer in another direction. It is the mathematical core of how materials look.
Physically based rendering uses BRDF models to make materials respond to light consistently and realistically across different scenes and engines. Parameters like roughness and metalness feed the BRDF to produce everything from matte plastic to polished metal.
3D PBR (physically based rendering) — Built on BRDF models.
OpenPBR — A standardized shading model using these principles.
Photoreal rendering — Where accurate BRDFs matter most.
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Technical deep-dives on adaptive spatial streaming, the infrastructure challenges of 3D at scale, and what we're learning as we build. Written by the team doing the work.
