Computer Graphics: Why Raytracers Treat Light as Particles

[DavidSnider]

Why do computer graphics programs like raytracers treat light almost exclusively as a particle rather than a wave?

 

[mathman]

The mathematics is a lot simpler. I speak from experience.

 

[mugaliens]

And since nearly all surfaces in real life are scaled such that edge and slit effects are not noticeable, it serves little point in accounting for them anyway.

Now, if we wanted to simulate what an ant sees, that would be a different story.