Rendering compact discs and other diffractive surfaces illuminated by linear light sources

Abstract

In this paper we develop an analytic model for determining the reflection from a compact disc illuminated by linear light sources. This model can easily be applied to any other diffractive surface when the diffractive characteristics of the surface are known.The reflection is determined by representing the linear light source with a parameterized function and using crystal lattice theory to provide a set of equations which can be solved to determine the reflected wavelengths. This model is an extension to previously developed models describing compact disc reflection.Studies of our model are made by comparing renderings of a compact disc illuminated by linear light source with actual photographs taken under similar conditions. The result shows that the reflection from linear light sources, which yields a different reflection pattern than point light sources, can be rendered in a time comparable with earlier point light source models.