How to render : the fundmentals of light, shadow and reflectivity / by Scott Robertson with Thomas Bertling.

Rendering is the next step after drawing to communicate ideas more clearly. This book is about the fundamentals of light, shadow and reflectivity. It is not about speed-painting, photo-bashing images of working specifically in any one software programe. Although many finished rendering examples are included in this book, in order to show what is possible after mastering the fundamentals, the focus is firmly on helping to improve your visual understanding of the world around you and techniques for representing that world. Rendering makes volumes look more three-dimensional and realistic. It is much easier than drawing from the imagination, because we can observe nature to learn how light, shadow and reflectivity behave. To illustrate these ideas and to improveyour visual awareness and skills of observation, we show a great many photographic examples. THis will lead to a deeper understanding of the visual world around you.

What is rendering + tools and materials // Light types and casting shadows // Rendering the Geo forms // Complex volumes // Rendering specific objects // Photo reference // Reflective surfaces // Reflections: indoor scenes // Reflections: Outdoor scenes // rendering specific materials // Rendering examples