4 Aug 2023

The story of 3D rendering

Vista Homes Team

The story of 3D rendering is a fascinating journey that spans several decades and involves advancements in technology, computer graphics, and the evolution of various industries, including film, video games, architecture, and design. Let's take a chronological look at the key milestones and developments that shaped the world of 3D rendering.

1. Early Beginnings (1960s-1970s): The concept of computer-generated images can be traced back to the early 1960s when researchers and computer scientists started experimenting with creating simple 3D wireframe models. However, due to limited computing power, the process was slow and restricted to basic shapes.
2. Pixar's Contribution (1970s-1980s): In the 1970s, the founding of the Pixar animation studio marked a significant turning point for 3D rendering. They created the first 3D rendered film called "The Adventures of André and Wally B." in 1984, which showcased early rendering techniques and set the stage for future advancements.
3. RenderMan and Ray Tracing (1980s): In 1986, Pixar developed the RenderMan software, which became a standard in the industry for rendering. It introduced advanced rendering techniques like ray tracing, which improved the realism of rendered images by simulating the path of light rays as they interact with objects in a scene.
4. Emergence of 3D Animation (1990s): The 1990s saw a surge in the use of 3D animation in films, TV shows, and commercials. Pixar's "Toy Story" (1995) became the first feature-length computer-animated film, and other studios started using 3D rendering for special effects and character animation.
5. Advancements in Hardware (1990s): As computing power increased, it became possible to render more complex scenes and use higher resolution textures and lighting effects. Graphics processing units (GPUs) played a crucial role in accelerating rendering tasks and making real-time rendering possible in video games.
6. Rise of 3D Graphics APIs (OpenGL and DirectX): The development of graphics APIs like OpenGL and DirectX allowed developers to interact with the GPU directly, enabling better control over rendering processes and standardizing graphics programming across platforms.
7. Real-Time Rendering (2000s): Advancements in GPUs, along with optimizations in rendering algorithms, led to real-time 3D rendering in video games and interactive applications. Games like "Half-Life 2" (2004) and "Crysis" (2007) showcased the visual potential of real-time rendering.
8. Global Illumination and Physical-Based Rendering (PBR): Global Illumination techniques, like radiosity and photon mapping, further improved the realism of rendered images by accurately simulating indirect lighting. Additionally, Physical-Based Rendering (PBR) became popular, as it mimicked real-world materials and lighting behaviors.
9. Cloud-Based Rendering (2010s): The advent of cloud computing allowed for distributed rendering, making it possible to harness massive computational power to render complex scenes without the need for expensive local hardware.
10. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality (2010s): The rise of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications demanded even more sophisticated rendering techniques to provide convincing and immersive experiences.
11. Ray Tracing Revolution (2010s-2020s): Ray tracing, which was once reserved for high-end CGI in movies, became more accessible in real-time rendering thanks to hardware-accelerated ray tracing on GPUs. Technologies like NVIDIA's RTX series and AMD's RDNA2 brought ray tracing capabilities to consumer-level graphics cards.
12. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Rendering: In recent years, artificial intelligence and machine learning have started playing a role in 3D rendering. AI-powered denoising, upscaling, and other post-processing techniques have become valuable tools in reducing rendering times and enhancing image quality.

The story of 3D rendering is an ongoing tale of continuous innovation, where each advancement in technology has pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of computer-generated imagery. As technology continues to evolve, 3D rendering will undoubtedly keep pushing the limits of realism and creativity in various industries.

1st 3d render