Abstract: A method of generating data for use in image based lighting rendering, including displaying a 2-dimensional canvas (202), each point on the 2-dimensional canvas representing a surface co-ordinate of a 3-dimensional object having at least one surface. User input describing creation/modification of at least one shape (205, 205?) having an associated lightness value for use in image based lighting rendering is received via the 2-dimensional canvas. The 2-dimensional canvas is updated in accordance with the user input to display a representation of the at least one shape as created/modified by the user input, the representation on the canvas being distorted to indicate mapping of the at least one shape with respect to at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object. Data describing the at least one shape for use in graphics rendering is generated.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of interacting with a three dimensional image based lighting surface to adjust its lighting properties, comprising defining an image plane and a user viewpoint for the lighting surface; rendering and displaying a scene containing an object in situ within the lighting surface; by way of a user interaction with the displayed scene, receiving an identification of a point on the image plane; tracing a ray from the user viewpoint through the identified point on the image plane and either, determining a surface intersection point of the ray with the surface or determining an object intersection point of the ray with the object and tracing a further ray, and determining a surface intersection point of the further ray with the surface, and adjusting the lighting properties of the surface at or in the region of the surface intersection point.

Abstract: A method of generating data for use in image based lighting rendering, including displaying a 2-dimensional canvas (202), each point on the 2-dimensional canvas representing a surface co-ordinate of a 3-dimensional object having at least one surface. User input describing creation/modification of at least one shape (205, 205?) having an associated lightness value for use in image based lighting rendering is received via the 2-dimensional canvas. The 2-dimensional canvas is updated in accordance with the user input to display a representation of the at least one shape as created/modified by the user input, the representation on the canvas being distorted to indicate mapping of the at least one shape with respect to at least one said surface of the 3-dimensional object. Data describing the at least one shape for use in graphics rendering is generated.