These are my computer graphics pages. This section of the site features digital images that I have created using a technique known as ray tracing, a slow but extremely realistic method of rendering 3D images. Chances are you already know what this involves, but if you don't, and don't mind a somewhat technical description, then click here for Wikipedia's definition and here for a slightly more accessible description.

Most of these images were created with a program called POV-Ray. POV-Ray is free, comprehensive and powerful, but it probably puts off many people because it doesn't use a CAD-type modeller to describe geometry and scenes. Instead, you have to use a 'Scene Description Language' (SDL) to program objects, textures and effects. This makes some things very difficult, and other things very easy. POV-Ray's SDL is very powerful and easy to learn if you have any experience with programming; it is also a nice environment to learn basic programming if you don't. However, some things are prohibitively difficult to create using pure SDL, so many people use other software such as Poser or Blender to model or position objects more intuitively, and then convert the results to something POV-Ray can import using programs like the excellent PoseRay.

I like POV-Ray for several reasons. Firstly, I like using the SDL to build scenes. I've been using the SDL since before mouse-driven visual modelling interfaces were common or affordable, so I've got very good at it. Secondly, although I've seen some stunning images produced using other rendering software, I think the level of realism achievable with POV-Ray is among the best possible (although I concede it may be harder to attain such realism without a good deal of expertise). Finally, I like the 'feel' of raytraced images. I can't put my finger on it, but a good deal of CG art I've seen that wasn't raytraced has a more blurry, fake feel to it.

A good selection of the best images ever created with POV-Ray can be seen in the Hall of Fame on the POV-Ray web site, covering a wide variety of techniques and subject matter. I hope you enjoy the rest of my images too!