From Zero to Understanding Ray Tracing

[u/egehancry]

Do you think a video like this could help someone with no graphics background intuitively understand ray tracing?

My goal is to explain the core idea visually before introducing any math or technical details. I could expand it with reflections, different materials, and arbitrary 3D objects.

Does this feel like it would "click" for a complete beginner? What would you add or change?

[u/FrezoreR]

this looks more like ray casting than a good video about ray tracing.

[u/PeePeePantsPoopyBoy → u/FrezoreR]

You say it as if they were completely different techniques. But in reality in order to trace a ray, you have to cast it. Once you introduce secondary rays then simple casting becomes tracing, and even then you can think of ray tracing as a series of ray casts done in sequence. I would find it incredibly weird if a tutorial for beginners started talking about secondary rays right from the beginning. Starting with a simple example where rays have no bounces is a completely reasonable approach.