CPU-RayTracer is a simple ray tracer implemented in C++. It is a learning project where I explore ray tracing concepts, algorithms, and implementations while building a CPU-based ray tracer from scratch.
This project follows the Ray Tracing in One Weekend book series by Peter Shirley, available at Ray Tracing in One Weekend. While working through the series, I also expand on its ideas, experiment with modifications, and add personal insights to reinforce my understanding.
The goal of this project is to create a ray tracer that evolves over time. It will initially focus on basic features like ray-sphere intersection, then move towards more advanced concepts such as global illumination, path tracing, and physically based rendering (PBR). As the project grows, I plan to split the development into different repositories, which I will be sure to share.
- Basic ray-sphere intersection
- Simple shading model
- PPM image output
- C++ and CMake-based build system
- Extensible design for future enhancements
- Motion Blur
- Bounding Volume Hierarchies (BVH) for accelerated ray-object intersection
- Texture Mapping with image-based and procedural textures
- Perlin Noise
- Lighting
- Volume Rendering — supporting fog-like media and translucent effects
Ensure you have CMake installed on your computer. You can download it from cmake.org.
Run the following commands to configure and build the project:
cmake -B build
cmake --build buildFor Windows users:
cmake -B build
cmake --build build --config Release # Create release binaries in `build\Release`
cmake --build build --config Debug # Create debug binaries in `build\Debug`Once compiled, you can execute the program to generate an image in PPM format:
build\Debug\CPU-RayTracer > image.ppmOr, for an optimized version:
build\Release\CPU-RayTracer > image.ppmThe output file image.ppm can be opened with an image viewer that supports PPM format or converted to other formats using tools like ImageMagick. You can also use an online resource ppm viewer.
This project will be continuously updated with new features as the Ray Tracing Series progresses. Future updates may include:
- Support for multiple objects
- Reflection and refraction
- Acceleration structures (BVH, KD-Trees)
- Multi-threading for better performance
- Texture mapping and materials
- Path tracing for realistic global illumination
Contributions and suggestions are welcome! Feel free to open issues or submit pull requests to improve this project.
This project is heavily based on the Ray Tracing in One Weekend book series by Peter Shirley. The series is freely available online at Ray Tracing in One Weekend and has been an invaluable resource in my learning journey.
Special thanks to:
Peter Shirley, for making advanced rendering concepts accessible and approachable.