Implementing Weighted Order-Independent Transparency

Weighted Order-Independent Transparency (WOIT) uses a different idea to tackle transparency, by using the concept of weighted averages rather than using data structures like linked lists or layers like depth peeling.

This method doesn’t require sorting or linked lists or multiple passes, reducing the overhead associated with those operations. The final color is calculated by normalizing the color buffer with the weight buffer, which provides an aggregate view of the colors and their weights. Although it may not be as accurate as per-pixel linked lists in complex scenarios, WOIT offers a performance-efficient solution for handling transparency in scenes with lower depth complexity. In this recipe, you will gain an understanding of the WOIT technique. We will explore how this method employs weighted averages to handle transparency, eschewing the need for data structures like linked lists or multiple passes, thereby reducing...