Methods for Soft Shadows Rendering

Abstract

This thesis discusses two different methods for creating soft shadows. Shadow volumes and shadow mapping, more accurately Variance Soft Shadow Mapping. It presents theory for these shadow algorithms as well as theory for few others which are necessary for understanding. Further it describes how to implement these methods and evaluates these implementations. Shadow volumes are based on creating additional geometry to the scene which serves for specifying region of penumbra. VSSM algorithm is a improved version of classic shadow mapping