Unbiased rendering

<p>In <a href="/facts/Computer_graphics/lapBE8wv">computer graphics</a>, unbiased rendering refers to techniques that avoid systematic errors, or <a href="/facts/Bias_(statistics)/Pql981K3">statistical bias</a>, in computing an image’s <a href="/facts/Radiance/5kS1FhpD">radiance</a>. Bias means inaccuracies like dimmer light or missing effects such as soft shadows, caused by approximations. Unbiased methods, such as <a href="/facts/Path_tracing/fxhaM84b">path tracing</a> and its derivatives, simulate real-world <a href="/facts/Lighting/Gk54r8xE">lighting</a> and <a href="/facts/Shading/ewcDEfda">shading</a> with full physical accuracy. In contrast, biased methods, including traditional <a href="/facts/Ray_tracing_(graphics)/n6qpap2q">ray tracing</a>, sacrifice precision for speed by using approximations that introduce errors—often seen as blur. This blur reduces <a href="/facts/Variance/ULBJKXD1">variance</a> (random noise) by averaging light samples, enabling faster computation with fewer samples needed for a clean image.
</p>

Unbiased rendering open-in-new

Unbiased rendering