Reducing Anisotropic BSDF Measurement to Common Practice

Abstract

We address the problem of measuring and representing reflection and transmission for anisotropic materials without relying on mathematical models or a large sample database. By eliminating assumptions of material behavior, we arrive at a general method that works for any surface class, from metals to fabrics, fritted glazing, and prismatic films. To make data gathering practical, we introduce a robust analysis method that interpolates a sparse set of incident angle measurements to obtain a continuous function over the full 4-D domain. We then convert this interpolant to a standard representation tailored for efficient rendering and supported by a common library that facilitates data sharing. We conclude with some remaining challenges to making anisotropic BSDF measurements truly practical for rendering.