Maxforums - GLSL real-time raytracer

GLSL real-time raytracer

advance-software

Check this out : http://www.iquilezles.org/apps/shadertoy

... then select Kinderpainter from the presets.

Requires a WebGL compatible browser - so Chrome/Safari or FF4B4.

Firefox4 beta : Set webgl enabled for all sites via about:config.

Chrome : Start the browser with --enable-webgl on the command line. I.e. chrome.exe --enable-webgl (you can set that on the desktop icon properties)

Suggest using the latest chromium nightly build.

Real-time raytracing in a browser with no plugins. Mad :)

<><> Infinity is coming ...

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8/29/2010 8:41:05 PM (last edit: 8/30/2010 4:44:04 PM)

Nik Clark

Holy shit. That is impressive. Rendering a Mandelbub in the browser at a slow, but reasonable rate. I am very impressed.

Some of the examples fail to compile, with "GL_EXT_gpu_shader4", but that could be my crappy graphic card in the laptop.

I am very impressed.

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8/29/2010 10:23:45 PM (last edit: 8/29/2010 10:23:45 PM)

Poopsmith

Oh cool...
The web is going to get reallllly fun in the future.

read 817 times
8/30/2010 8:38:28 AM (last edit: 8/30/2010 8:38:28 AM)

Nik Clark

What's the future for support of this standard? How is it implemented?
I think I need to do some research, as I am very impressed with this.

read 743 times
9/1/2010 12:56:03 PM (last edit: 9/1/2010 12:56:03 PM)

ScotlandDave

Do i need to install the dev channel version of Chrome as in this link? - how_to_enable_webgl_on_google_chrome.htm

Old Portfolio Madness

read 738 times
9/1/2010 1:03:48 PM (last edit: 9/1/2010 1:03:48 PM)

Sir_Manfred

Its only rendering a blank black screen for me. Sometimes blank white screen. Whats up with that?
Isn't it supposed to render out some sort of CONTENT?

Edit: Nevermind.

I be parrrrlaygons, me hearties!
http://www.Freds3D.com

read 726 times
9/1/2010 1:24:06 PM (last edit: 9/1/2010 1:26:14 PM)

Nik Clark

I get that on some because there is another setting that you need to enable in the Firefox about:config that I haven't changed yet.

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9/1/2010 1:29:28 PM (last edit: 9/1/2010 1:29:28 PM)

advance-software

This is bleeding edge stuff, so run latest FF4 beta or latest chromium beta for best results.

I've taken the raytracer apart & refactored the code so I now understand what's going on.

It's a basic single bounce raytracer with a standard phong lighting model. It's fast as f*k because it's only raytracing a couple of spheres, cylinders & planes, all of which are easy to work with in a raytracer - the test comes with more complex real-world geometry.

My next step is to add support for generic polygon meshes & see what kind of complexity/performance is possible. If that works out, I'll integrate into our graphics engine & provide a raytrace rendering option. You'll be able to test using our engine & will be able to export content using our XSG exporter or Hua*MuLan's Maya equivalent.

> What's the future for support of this standard ? How is it implemented?

It's standard GLSL code so it could be implemented in any OpenGL renderer - the example you're seeing is WebGL which is just a javascript interface to OpenGL. You could do something similar in a DX11 pixel shader.

My first post explains what you have to do to get this running. If that doesn't work for you, try updating your graphics drivers.

WebGL is supported by Firefox, Chrome & Safari. Microsoft/IE & Opera aren't on board yet.

<><> Infinity is coming ...

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9/1/2010 1:56:50 PM (last edit: 9/1/2010 2:17:34 PM)

Nik Clark

Thanks AS.

In Firerox, there is a second setting that needs changing. I haven't got a link. it enables all the Gl modes, which is why some of them weren't working for me.

I wonder what I need to do to start messing with this? Is there some place I can go to get documentation on how I can do a "hello world" from scratch with this?

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9/1/2010 2:16:46 PM (last edit: 9/1/2010 2:16:46 PM)

advance-software

If you want to build your own WebGL engine, I'd start from here : http://learningwebgl.com/lessons/lesson05

That's a rasterizer, not a raytracer - simple unlit, textured cube.

If you want to build a raytracer you have the source for a simple one in the link above.

I can't see any other opengl config option in FF that you'd want to set. If some of the shaders won't compile, your gfx card might not support that level of shader. A driver update might enable support in some cases.

Existing WebGL engines include :

WebGL version of Google's O3D.
GLGE : http://www.glge.org
Infinity/WebGL version. (work in progress - available soon)

There are others. Maybe drop down some links if you see anything cool.

<><> Infinity is coming ...

read 688 times
9/1/2010 2:21:20 PM (last edit: 9/1/2010 3:25:17 PM)

Nik Clark

Would I be correct in thinking that the various engines are written in javascript?

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9/1/2010 3:56:02 PM (last edit: 9/1/2010 3:56:02 PM)

advance-software

The WebGL engines ? Yes, with GLSL shader backends.
The raytracer is written in GLSL.

<><> Infinity is coming ...

read 655 times
9/1/2010 4:00:14 PM (last edit: 9/1/2010 4:01:29 PM)

Nik Clark

Thanks, AS. I just need more hours in the day to spare some time for this!

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9/1/2010 4:46:53 PM (last edit: 9/1/2010 4:46:53 PM)