Path Tracing

To render your designs with the highest possible quality, use Path Tracing.

Path tracing produces highly realistic renders by simulating how light behaves in the real world. It includes the benefits of global illumination - such as brighter, more natural shadowed areas from indirect light - while also improving overall lighting accuracy, reflections, and material appearance.

Unlike realtime lighting that relies mostly on direct sunlight, path tracing follows many light paths as they bounce between surfaces and objects. This captures subtle effects that make a scene feel “photographic,” including:

• Indirect lighting (global illumination): Light reflecting from nearby surfaces brightens shaded areas naturally.

• More realistic reflections: Cleaner, more accurate reflections on shiny materials.

• Improved material realism: Better shading for materials like stone, wood, glass, and metal.

• Softer, more natural lighting: Smooth light falloff and more believable contrast.

Because path tracing performs significantly more calculations than realtime rendering, it takes longer to produce an image, especially in complex scenes. This is particularly true for movies, where each frame must be rendered individually. Use realtime rendering while designing, then switch to path tracing when you're ready to create final-quality screenshots or movies.

Comparing Realtime and Path Tracing

The following shows a comparision between the rendering options:

Option	Indirect Lighting	Reflections	Speed
Realtime	Low	Simulated	Fastest
Path Tracing	High (multiple bounces)	Accurate	Slowest

The following shows a design rendered with each method.