1. [Topics](https://developer.nvidia.com/topics/)
2. [Rendering](https://developer.nvidia.com/topics/ai/)
3. 
Real-Time Ray Tracing

# Real-Time Ray Tracing

Real-time ray tracing is a method of graphics rendering that simulates the physical behavior of light.

Find tutorials, samples, videos, and more:

[Explore Resources](#library)

Key Topics:

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Ray Tracing  

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Global Illumination
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Dynamic Illumination

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Super Resolution
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Denoising
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Real-time rendering

[![An image of an ancient building showing how real time light simulation works](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/real-time-ray-tracing.jpg "An image of an ancient building showing how real time light simulation works")](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/real-time-ray-tracing.jpg)

Click to Enlarge

## How Real Time Light Simulation Works

Real-time path tracing simulates the true physics of light, which uses ray tracing as one component of a larger light simulation system. This provides real-time experiences with true to life shadows, reflections and global illumination. Compared to rasterization, which is equivalent to casting one set of rays from a single point that stops at the first thing they hit, and ray tracing, which casts rays from many points in any direction, path tracing randomly samples all lights in a scene. Rays are traced over multiple bounces back to their light source, directly lighting objects or characters and indirectly lighting rooms or environments.

## Explore Ray Tracing Tools and Technologies

### RTX Kit

NVIDIA RTX™ Kit is a suite of technology to path trace game assets with AI, better organize geometry for improved path tracing performance, and create game characters with photorealistic visuals.

[Get Started With RTX Kit](/rtx-kit)

### DLSS  

NVIDIA DLSS is a neural graphics technology that multiplies performance using AI to create entirely new frames, display higher resolution through image reconstruction, and improve the image quality of intensive ray-traced content.

[Get Started With DLSS](/rtx/dlss)

### Omniverse  

NVIDIA Omniverse™ is a platform of APIs, SDKs, and services that enable developers to easily integrate Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) and NVIDIA RTX™ rendering technologies into existing software tools and simulation workflows for building AI systems.

[Get Started With Omniverse](/omniverse)

### OptiX  

NVIDIA OptiX™ is an application framework for achieving optimal ray-tracing performance on the GPU for non-realtime renderers. It provides a simple, recursive, and flexible pipeline for accelerating ray-tracing algorithms.

[Get Started With OptiX](/rtx/ray-tracing/optix)

### Nsight Developer Tools  

NVIDIA Nsight™ tools are a powerful set of libraries, SDKs, and developer tools spanning that enable developers to build, debug, profile, and develop software that utilizes path tracing.

[Get Started With Nsight Tools](/tools-overview#section-all)

## Real-Time Ray Tracing Learning Resources