What is the Difference Between Ray Tracing Being On and Off?

The difference between ray tracing being on and off can vary widely depending on the game you are playing. In the early days of gaming, older titles such as Quake 2, Doom, and Serious Sam did not employ as many sophisticated visual tricks, leaving the impact of ray tracing quite noticeable. Simply put, when ray tracing is turned off, the game relies on less complex methods to simulate realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections, which results in a potentially less immersive and less detailed visual experience.

Ray Tracing vs. Older Games

Consider Quake 2 as an example. Without ray tracing, the game would use simpler techniques to achieve its graphics. enabling ray tracing, on the other hand, introduces a level of realism that is otherwise lacking. Shadows are harder and more detailed, reflections are crisper, and lighting is more authentic. This can be observed when comparing the scene without ray tracing to the same scene with it enabled.

Ray Tracing in Doom and GZDooM

Doom, when played with GZDoom (a modified version of Doom), can also showcase differences in visual quality. In the absence of ray tracing, lighting and shadows are less precise and surface reflections are more artificial. Enabling ray tracing enhances these elements, leading to a more immersive and detailed experience.

While both older and modern games benefit from ray tracing, the methods often differ. Modern games often use pre-baked lighting, cascaded shadow maps, and screen-space reflections, which are less computationally intensive but can still result in noticeable glitches. For instance, screen-space reflections may only capture what is currently in the player's view, leading to issues when the camera is shifted. Similarly, pre-baked lighting isn't affected by interactive objects, meaning that certain features may not change dynamically, thus reducing the overall realism.

Ray Tracing in Modern Games

Modern games often incorporate ray tracing to enhance the overall visual experience. Enabling ray tracing in these games can result in more realistic lighting, better shadows, and clearer volumetric fog. However, this typically comes at the cost of performance. To maintain a good balance between quality and performance, modern graphics cards like NVIDIA's RTX series and AMD's RX series have been designed to handle ray tracing more efficiently.

Performance Considerations

Enabling ray tracing in games or using it in 3D programs can indeed cause a significant drop in performance. However, with the advanced hardware of today, the impact is often less severe than it once was. Still, some gamers may find that the reduction in performance is too noticeable, especially during intensive scenes.

It's worth noting that the need to enable ray tracing during gameplay can vary. In some cases, it might be more beneficial to disable it for a smoother experience, especially if the game's visual quality isn't a primary concern. Alternatively, those who prioritize a more immersive and realistic experience might prefer to keep it enabled.

Conclusion

In summary, ray tracing offers a significant improvement in visual quality and realism, but it often comes at the cost of performance. The best approach depends on the game, the available hardware, and the gamer's preferences. For 3D artists and enthusiasts, understanding the trade-offs between ray tracing and traditional rendering techniques is crucial for creating and optimizing modern visual experiences.