This paper proposes an accurate illumination model for rendering objects coated with multilayer films. Optical phenomena of multilayer films are caused by reflection, refraction, interference, and absorption of light inside each layer of multiple films, and these physical phenomena are complicatedly related with each other. The proposed method calculates composite reflectance and transmittance of multilayer films, taking into account all the physical phenomena described above, and visualizes the optical phenomena caused by the multilayer films accurately. The illumination model proposed in the paper can handle both smooth surface and locally smooth rough surfaces. Several examples of objects coated with various kinds of films demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed method.

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