Revision 38753005 of "YafRay" on enwiki

{{Infobox_Software |
  logo = |
  screenshot = |
  caption = |
  name = YafRay |
  developer = Alejandro Conty Estévez |
  latest_release_version = 0.0.8 |
  latest_release_date = [[July 7]], [[2005]] |
  operating_system = [[Cross-platform]] |
  genre = [[Raytracer]] |
  license = [[GNU Lesser General Public License|LGPL]] |
  website = [http://www.yafray.org/ www.yafray.org] |
}}
[[Image:Engine_movingparts.jpg|200px|right|thumbnail|A YafRay rendering of [[piston engine]] parts modelled in [[Blender (program)|Blender]].]]
'''YafRay''' ('''Y'''et '''A'''nother '''F'''ree '''Ray'''tracer) is an [[free software|free]], [[open source]] [[ray tracing]] program that uses an [[XML]] scene description language. It has recently been integrated into the 3D modelling software [[Blender (program)|Blender]], and so can now be used to render scenes made within it.

It is licensed under the [[GNU Lesser General Public License]] (LGPL).

==Features==
===Rendering===
;Global Ilumination
	
:YafRay uses [[global illumination]] to produce realistically lit renderings of 3D scenes, using [[Monte Carlo method|Montecarlo]]-derived approximations.
;Skydome Ilumination	
:This ilumination system is based mainly on light coming from an emitting sky, taking into account the soft shadows calculations also involved. The illumination can be obtained from a [[High dynamic range imaging|high dynamic range image]].

;Caustics
:YafRay uses [[photon mapping]] that allows for [[Caustic (optics)|Caustic]] (light distorsion produced by reflection or transmission such as through a [[burning-glass]]. For simulating translucent materials there is also a [[subsurface scattering]] shader under development.

;Depth of field	
:The effects of a focus [[depth of field]] can be reproduced using this feature. With a point in the scene fixed, further objects will be out of focus.

;Blurry reflections
:If a surface is not a perfect [[Reflection (physics)|reflector]], distortion arises in the reflected light. This distortion will grow bigger as the reflecting object is taken further away. YafRay can simulate this phenomenon.

===Architecture===
;Modular framework
:Yafray features a modular structure, with a [[microkernel]] with which the rest of the render elements connect: scene loader, lights and shaders. This together with an [[Application Programming Interface |API]], allows development of rendering plug-ins, for using Yafray from any program or 3D suite. Supported suites include [[Blender (software)|Blender]], [[Wings 3D]] and Aztec.

;Cross-platform
:Yafray has been fully developed using [[C++]]. This makes for good portability and there are precompiled [[binaries]] for the most common platforms: [[GNU]]/[[Linux]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] 9x/XP/2000, [[Mac OS X]] and [[Irix]]. Yafray can be used as a stand-alone render engine, using its own scene description format. This way it can be used from the [[command line]] directly, by a script, etc. There are also provisions for [[parallel computing|parallel]] or [[Distributed computing|distributed]] rendering.

== See also ==
* [[POV-Ray]], another popular free ray tracer.

==External link==
* [http://www.yafray.org Official website]

{{compu-soft-stub}}

[[Category:3D graphics software]]
[[Category:Free software]]

[[de:YafRay]]
[[es:YafRay]]
[[fr:Yafray]]
[[pl:YafRay]]