CS 598: Advanced Physics-Based Rendering (Spring 2026)#

Teaser

Logistics#

Location: 1304 SSCDS
Time: Tuesday/Thursday 11:00 am–12:15 pm (CT)

Instructor: Shuang Zhao
Office hours: TBA

Course materials are distributed via Canvas.

Course Overview#

Synthesizing photorealistic images via physics-based simulation of light has been an important topic in 3D graphics and vision. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the mathematical and algorithmic foundations of physics-based rendering.

Specifically, we will cover topics including:

  • Preliminaries (Monte Carlo integration, and variance reduction);
  • Physics-based rendering essentials (the rendering equation, path tracing, and reflectance models);
  • Volume rendering (radiative transfer, and volume path tracing);
  • Advanced topics (e.g., bidirectional path tracing, Markov-Chain Monte Carlo rendering, and differentiable rendering);
  • Specialized topics (e.g., NeRF, and Gaussian splatting).

In addition, the students will read and present recent research papers related to these topics.

Prerequisites: While there are no formal prerequisites, this course assumes familiarity with calculus (MATH 220 or similar) and computer graphics (CS 418 or similar). If you have not taken courses covering these materials, please consult with the instructor.

Academic Integrity Policy#

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Code should also be considered as a part of this syllabus. Students should pay particular attention to Article 1, Part 4: Academic Integrity Policy.

Academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade. Ignorance is not an excuse for any academic dishonesty. It is your responsibility to read this policy to avoid any misunderstanding. Do not hesitate to ask the instructor(s) if you are ever in doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, cheating, or any other breach of academic integrity.

Statement on CS CARES and CS Values and Code of Conduct#

All members of the Illinois Computer Science department—faculty, staff, and students—are expected to adhere to the CS Values and Code of Conduct. The CS CARES Committee is available to serve as a resource to help people who are concerned about or experience a potential violation of the Code. If you experience such issues, please contact the CS CARES Committee. The instructors of this course are also available for issues related to this class.