Incorporating planar reflections into Tensor was a challenging task due to the limited resources available online. The simplicity of planar reflections belies the complexity of their implementation. The primary challenge was the manipulation of the reflection matrix to render everything within the plane. Additionally, the use of clipping planes to limit the rendering to the size of the reflection planes posed another hurdle. A less significant aspect of the implementation was the convolution of the reflected color buffer and its sampling at varying levels of detail, contingent on the roughness of the reflecting surface.
Planar reflections are a powerful tool in rendering, providing more accurate reflections than alternative methods such as Screen Space Reflections (SSR). However, they come with a higher rendering cost due to the need to render the level again from the direction of the reflection. Despite this, the results are often more consistent and accurate, especially at the sides and edges of the reflecting surface.
The integration of planar reflections significantly enhanced the visual realism of the Tensor project. By accurately reflecting off-screen objects, planar reflections eliminated the 'leaking' commonly associated with Screen Space Reflections (SSR). This resulted in more consistent and visually pleasing reflections, particularly at the sides and edges of the reflecting surface.
Despite the successful implementation of planar reflections, there is room for improvement. One issue is that the color buffer lacks edge detection, leading to a naive blurring effect. Future work could focus on incorporating edge detection into the color buffer to enhance the visual quality of the reflections.
The integration of planar reflections into the Tensor project was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. Despite the complexities and the high rendering cost, the resulting visual improvements significantly enhanced the project's realism. The experience underscored the potential of planar reflections in rendering and highlighted areas for future improvement, particularly in the implementation of edge detection in the color buffer. As we continue to push the boundaries of rendering technology, planar reflections will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of realistic and immersive virtual environments.
Here are some images that demonstrate the results of my planar reflections implementation.
Click on an image to view it in bigger size.