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Two-Dimensional Global Illumination in Three.js: Too Good to be True?

Despite initial excitement surrounding two-dimensional global illumination in ThreeJS being done with per-frame jump flooding and 32spp combined with a spatial denoiser treating every pixel as a point light source, experts remain skeptical due its complexity and potential costliness if successful

A photo of someone looking skeptically at their computer screen as they work on implementing two-dimensional global illumination in ThreeJS

A photo of someone looking skeptically at their computer screen as they work on implementing two-dimensional global illumination in ThreeJS

The world of computer graphics has been revolutionized with the recent announcement of two-dimensional global illumination in Three.js, a JavaScript library for creating interactive 3D and 2D graphics. The new feature is done with per-frame jump flooding and 32spp combined with a spatial denoiser, treating every pixel as a point light source. While this development may seem like an incredible breakthrough for the industry, many experts are skeptical that it can actually be implemented effectively. The primary concern lies in the sheer complexity of such an undertaking. In order to render realistic lighting effects, one must take into account all possible interactions between light sources and surfaces within a scene - something that is incredibly difficult to achieve even with modern computing power. Furthermore, there are questions about how well the denoiser will work in practice; while it promises to reduce noise from individual pixels, it remains unclear whether or not it will be able to produce accurate results on a larger scale. Even if these issues can be resolved, there are still doubts about whether or not this technology will ever become mainstream due to its high cost and resource requirements. As it stands now, only those with access to powerful hardware and software will be able to take advantage of this feature - leaving out most casual users who simply don't have the means or resources necessary for implementation. At best, two-dimensional global illumination in Three.js could represent a major leap forward for computer graphics technology; at worst, however, it could end up being nothing more than an expensive experiment that fails to live up to its promise. Only time will tell which outcome comes true - but until then, skepticism remains high among industry professionals regarding this ambitious project's potential success or failure.