---
title: "Wavelength dependent reflectance functions"
authors: ["Jay S. Gondek", "Gary W. Meyer", "Jonathan G. Newman"]
year: 1994
venue: "Proceedings of the 21st annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques - SIGGRAPH '94"
arxiv: null
doi: "10.1145/192161.192202"
source: "https://doi.org/10.1145/192161.192202"
topics: [translucent-materials]
seed_rank: 1323
seed_batch: "sss-translucent-2026-08-25"
reviewed: "2026-08-25"
pool: "graphics"
relevance_score: 8
lineage: translucent-materials
---

# Wavelength dependent reflectance functions

## One-sentence takeaway

Gondek SIGGRAPH 1994: layered thin-film/pearlescent spectral BRDF; founding iridescent coating material.

## Problem

Predecessor chain thin-film interference; Cook-Torrance. This paper's job: Gondek SIGGRAPH 1994: layered thin-film/pearlescent spectral BRDF; founding iridescent coating material.

## Design

Gondek SIGGRAPH 1994: layered thin-film/pearlescent spectral BRDF; founding iridescent coating material. Lineage: thin-film interference; Cook-Torrance.

## Evidence

Proceedings of the 21st annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques - SIGGRAPH '94 1994. DOI `10.1145/192161.192202`. Gondek SIGGRAPH 1994: layered thin-film/pearlescent spectral BRDF; founding iridescent coating material.

## Limitations

Read the cited predecessors before treating this as a drop-in Anoptic shader. Do not claim the library already implements it.

## Implications for Broadside

Anoptic's mesh path can take a layered BSDF at a hit; coats, varnish, and thin slabs are the same missing appearance stack as SSS. FMM+RC is the far-field GI bet — this paper is the local layered operator. Do not claim Anoptic already has SSS.

## Bottom line

Mint this 1994 Proceedings of the 21st annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques - SIGGRAPH '94 paper. Gondek SIGGRAPH 1994: layered thin-film/pearlescent spectral BRDF; founding iridescent coating material.

## Links

- DOI: [10.1145/192161.192202](https://doi.org/10.1145/192161.192202)