Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!nrl-cmf!ames!ucsd!sdcsvax!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!hplabs!hp-pcd!uoregon!markv
From: markv@uoregon.UUCP (Mark VandeWettering)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: silver color
Message-ID: <1537@uoregon.UUCP>
Date: 5 Feb 88 19:16:22 GMT
References: <2679@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU>
Reply-To: markv@drizzle.UUCP (Mark VandeWettering)
Organization: University of Oregon, Computer Science, Eugene OR
Lines: 24

In article <2679@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> tada@athena.mit.edu (Ivan Tadayoff) writes:

>Does anyone know what values of RGB to use to make a nice looking silver?
>(as in a metallic object?)  I've tried a variety of combinations and none 
>of them seem very pleasing.

	It is not merely a matter of selecting the appropriate
	RGB values, but also building a reflection model that is
	realistic.  Normal surfaces reflect light evenly in every
	direction in every wavelength (I know, an oversimplification).
	Metallic surfaces exhibit a more complex behavior.  Making a
	convincing metallic surface has been covered in some of the
	appropriate literature, but I am at home and my bibliography for
	such stuff isn't here.

>While on the subject, does anyone know a good book on how to color ray-
>tracing views?  For example, how much does a light ray change when it
>reflects off a metallic sphere?  
	
	Books indeed could be written, but I know of none.  Siggraph
	Course notes are great if you can get 'em.  I wish I hadn't lent
	mine out to some person in need.
>
>Thanks in advance for any help.