Best Rendering & Ray Tracing Books of 2025

Drawing Digital is a comprehensive guide for learning digital drawing and painting on your tablet. Lisa Bardot, the author, offers step-by-step instructions and tips to create 12 drawing and painting projects, from still life to city scenes, using Procreate or any other digital drawing app. The book also covers finding creative inspiration, app basics, and instructions for layering, duplicating, exporting, and more. Bardot's signature vibrant artwork accompanies each project. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, this book is a great resource to improve your digital art skills.

This book is a comprehensive guide to mastering Excel 2023 in less than 5 minutes with simple and real-life examples. It includes private access to 3 online Excel courses and 3 free special bonuses. With this book, readers can learn from the simplest functions to advanced formulas, all explained in easy-to-understand English. The author provides Excel hacks that can significantly improve the reader's performance while cutting their work time. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn Excel from scratch without spending hours reading through boring tutorials or watching long videos that go over every single detail of each topic.

The fourth edition of Physically Based Rendering is the leading-edge computer graphics textbook that sets the standard for physically-based rendering in the industry and the field. The book offers a comprehensive update on photorealistic computer graphics and physically-based approaches to rendering. It describes both the mathematical theory behind a modern photorealistic rendering system as well as its practical implementation. The book’s leading-edge algorithms, software, and ideas equip the reader to design and employ a full-featured rendering system capable of creating stunning imagery. This book is an essential text for professionals learning about and working in the field.

The third edition of "Game Engine Architecture" offers a comprehensive guide to the theory and practice of game engine software development. The author, Jason Gregory, draws on his vast experience to explain the broad range of technologies and techniques used by AAA game studios in detail. The book covers computer and CPU hardware, memory caches, compiler optimizations, C++ language standardization, and more. With an entirely new chapter on hardware parallelism and concurrent programming, it caters to both beginners and senior engineers. Overall, this book is an invaluable resource for game developers seeking a deeper understanding of game development technology.

The Real-Time Rendering, Fourth Edition, is a comprehensive reference book on three-dimensional interactive computer graphics. It covers a wide range of topics, including acceleration algorithms, graphics APIs, and visual appearance. The latest edition has been updated with a new chapter on virtual reality and augmented reality, making it a must-read for anyone serious about computer graphics. The book has received high praise from industry professionals, with many recommending it as a go-to resource. Overall, this book is an excellent choice for anyone looking to increase their knowledge of computer graphics and stay up-to-date with the latest techniques and practices.

Computer Vision: Algorithms and Applications is a comprehensive textbook/reference that explores the techniques used to analyze and interpret images. The book takes a scientific approach to the formulation of computer vision problems and provides a detailed analysis of classical and deep learning models. It also includes challenging real-world applications where vision is being successfully used. The book is suitable for upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level courses in computer science or engineering. It is also an excellent reference for fundamental techniques and current research literature in computer vision.

Mastering Graphics Programming with Vulkan is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning how to develop a modern rendering engine using Vulkan. The book covers advanced Vulkan features and real-time ray tracing techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the inner workings of a modern rendering engine. The author also teaches readers how to automate resource binding and dependencies, integrate variable rate shading, and efficiently render with many light sources. By the end of the book, readers will have the foundational knowledge to create their rendering engine. Overall, this book is a valuable addition to any 3D graphics designer's library.

The second volume in the Foundations of Game Engine Development series, "Rendering," delves into the intricacies of real-time rendering in modern game engines. The book covers a wide range of topics, including color science, projections, shaders, lighting, and more advanced rendering techniques like volumetric effects and motion blur. The author puts a strong emphasis on practical implementation and includes code examples. This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in game engine development, and it stands out for its thorough and accessible explanations.

Visualization Analysis and Design is a comprehensive guide to designing effective visualization systems. It offers a unified approach to information visualization techniques and emphasizes the careful validation of effectiveness. The book is suitable for a broad set of readers, from beginners to more experienced visualization designers. It does not assume any previous experience in programming, mathematics, human-computer interaction, or graphic design. This book synthesizes past work to develop a comprehensive framework for design and analysis, making it a unique and attractive read for anyone interested in the field of human-computer interaction.

Blender 3D By Example is an excellent guide for anyone looking to learn 3D design using the latest features of Blender 2.83. The book is filled with practical projects that cover modeling, sculpting, materials, textures, lighting, and rigging, making it a comprehensive resource for beginners. The author's approach to teaching is straightforward, and the step-by-step instructions are easy to follow. The book also covers the new EEVEE rendering engine and Grease Pencil, making it an up-to-date resource for users. Overall, Blender 3D By Example is a must-have for anyone looking to learn 3D design with Blender.