# Real-Time Ray Tracing

Real-time ray tracing is a method of graphics rendering that simulates the physical behavior of light.

Find tutorials, samples, videos, and more:

[Explore Resources](https://developer.nvidia.com/rtx/ray-tracing?sortBy=developer_learning_library%2Fsort%2Ftitle%3Aasc#library)

Key Topics:

- Ray Tracing
- Global Illumination
- Dynamic Illumination
- Super Resolution
- Denoising
- Real-time rendering

## How Real Time Light Simulation Works

Real-time path tracing simulates the true physics of light, which uses ray tracing as one component of a larger light simulation system. This provides real-time experiences with true to life shadows, reflections and global illumination. Compared to rasterization, which is equivalent to casting one set of rays from a single point that stops at the first thing they hit, and ray tracing, which casts rays from many points in any direction, path tracing randomly samples all lights in a scene. Rays are traced over multiple bounces back to their light source, directly lighting objects or characters and indirectly lighting rooms or environments.

## Explore Ray Tracing Tools and Technologies

### RTX Kit

NVIDIA RTX™ Kit is a suite of technology to path trace game assets with AI, better organize geometry for improved path tracing performance, and create game characters with photorealistic visuals.

[Get Started With RTX Kit](https://developer.nvidia.com/rtx-kit)

### DLSS

NVIDIA DLSS is a neural graphics technology that multiplies performance using AI to create entirely new frames, display higher resolution through image reconstruction, and improve the image quality of intensive ray-traced content.

[Get Started With DLSS](https://developer.nvidia.com/rtx/dlss)

### Omniverse

NVIDIA Omniverse™ is a platform of APIs, SDKs, and services that enable developers to easily integrate Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) and NVIDIA RTX™ rendering technologies into existing software tools and simulation workflows for building AI systems.

[Get Started With Omniverse](https://developer.nvidia.com/omniverse)

### OptiX

NVIDIA OptiX™ is an application framework for achieving optimal ray-tracing performance on the GPU for non-realtime renderers. It provides a simple, recursive, and flexible pipeline for accelerating ray-tracing algorithms.

[Get Started With OptiX](https://developer.nvidia.com/rtx/ray-tracing/optix)

### Nsight Developer Tools

NVIDIA Nsight™ tools are a powerful set of libraries, SDKs, and developer tools spanning that enable developers to build, debug, profile, and develop software that utilizes path tracing.

[Get Started With Nsight Tools](https://developer.nvidia.com/tools-overview#section-all)

## Real-Time Ray Tracing Learning Resources

##### Filters

Sort by

- A-Z (ascending)
- Z-A (descending)

Learning Level

- Advanced1
- Beginner5
- General Interest14
- Intermediate7

Content Type

- Blog18
- Video8

Showing 26 results

01. Video  
    RTX Kit|ACE  
    ### Animating with Autodesk Maya and NVIDIA ACE
    Learn how to finish up and export your animation in Autodesk Maya and import your files into other tools, such as Unreal, to further bring your animation to life.
    [Learn more](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5GLZGWzxRk&list=PL5B692fm6--sRqOTsuIExj746qMi3MOH2&index=4)

02. Blog  
    Blackwell|Nsight Tools - Graphics|RTX Kit  
    ### Build Apps with Neural Rendering Using NVIDIA Nsight Developer Tools on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs
    The next generation of NVIDIA graphics hardware has arrived. Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs deliver groundbreaking new RTX features…
    [Learn more](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/build-apps-with-neural-rendering-using-nvidia-nsight-developer-tools-on-geforce-rtx-50-series-gpus/)

03. Video  
    RTX Kit|ACE  
    ### Character Animation with Autodesk Maya and NVIDIA ACE
    In this tutorial video, learn more about how to adjust settings in Autodesk Maya to fine-tune your character animation based on personality, reactions, and small facial-movements.
    [Learn more](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LMs3tHc4Xs&list=PL5B692fm6--sRqOTsuIExj746qMi3MOH2&index=4)

04. Video  
    RTX Kit|ACE  
    ### Explore the Capabilities of Autodesk Maya and NVIDIA ACE
    Using audio-input only, NVIDIA ACE can generate lifelike facial animation in real-time. Discover the technologies that power Autodesk Maya and how it can be used in your workflow.
    [Learn more](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3oDLMDgXc0&list=PL5B692fm6--sRqOTsuIExj746qMi3MOH2&index=8)

05. Video  
    RTX Kit|ACE  
    ### Exploring the Autodesk Maya and NVIDIA ACE Open Source Code
    Explore the AutoDesk Maya and NVIDIA ACE source code, including requirements and steps for downloading and what is included in the source code.
    [Learn more](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_gAn6cR_QM&list=PL5B692fm6--sRqOTsuIExj746qMi3MOH2&index=2)

06. Blog  
    OptiX|RTX Kit  
    ### Fast Ray Tracing of Dynamic Scenes Using NVIDIA OptiX 9 and NVIDIA RTX Mega Geometry
    Real-time ray tracing is a powerful rendering technique that can create incredibly realistic images. NVIDIA OptiX and RTX technology make this possible…
    [Learn more](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/fast-ray-tracing-of-dynamic-scenes-using-nvidia-optix-9-and-nvidia-rtx-mega-geometry/)

07. Blog  
    Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE)|Audio2Face|DGX Cloud|NeMo|NIM|RTX GPU|RTX Direct Illumination|Streamline  
    ### Generative AI for Digital Human Technologies and New AI-powered NVIDIA RTX Lighting
    At GDC 2024, NVIDIA announced that leading AI application developers such as Inworld AI are using NVIDIA digital human technologies to accelerate the deployment…
    [Learn more](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/generative-ai-for-digital-humans-and-new-ai-powered-nvidia-rtx-lighting/)

08. Video  
    RTX Kit|ACE  
    ### Get and Setup API Key for Autodesk Maya and NVIDIA ACE
    In this video, we’ll walk through how you can generate an API key to enable you to use the microservice from Autodesk Maya and NVIDIA ACE.
    [Learn more](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFZ149RPLY0&list=PL5B692fm6--sRqOTsuIExj746qMi3MOH2&index=6)

09. Blog  
    RTX Kit  
    ### Get Started with Neural Rendering Using NVIDIA RTX Kit
    Neural rendering is the next era of computer graphics. By integrating neural networks into the rendering process, we can take dramatic leaps forward in…
    [Learn more](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/get-started-with-neural-rendering-using-nvidia-rtx-kit/)

10. Blog  
    DLSS|RTX GPU|RTX Kit  
    ### How id Software Used Neural Rendering and Path Tracing in DOOM: The Dark Ages
    DOOM: The Dark Ages pushes real-time graphics to new limits by integrating RTX neural rendering and path tracing, setting a new standard for how modern games…
    [Learn more](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/how-id-software-used-neural-rendering-and-path-tracing-in-doom-the-dark-ages/)

11. Blog  
    DLSS|RTX GPU|RTX Kit  
    ### How Painkiller RTX Uses Generative AI to Modernize Game Assets at Scale
    Painkiller RTX sets a new standard for how small teams can balance massive visual ambition with limited resources by integrating generative AI.
    [Learn more](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/how-painkiller-rtx-uses-generative-ai-to-modernize-game-assets-at-scale/)

12. Video  
    RTX Kit|ACE  
    ### How to Download and Install Autodesk Maya for NVIDIA ACE
    Ready to start using Autodesk Maya? In this NVIDIA ACE tutorial video, we’ll outline system requirements and how to successfully download and deploy this tool.
    [Learn more](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsY81c3dDbI&list=PL5B692fm6--sRqOTsuIExj746qMi3MOH2&index=7)

13. Blog  
    CUDA|RTX Kit  
    ### How to Get Started with Neural Shading for Your Game or Application
    For the past 25 years, real-time rendering has been driven by continuous hardware improvements. The goal has always been to create the highest fidelity image…
    [Learn more](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/how-to-get-started-with-neural-shading-for-your-game-or-application/)

14. Blog  
    ACE|DLSS|RTX GPU|RTX Kit  
    ### NVIDIA ACE Adds Open Source Qwen3 SLM for On-Device Deployment in PC Games
    To help create real-time, dynamic NPC game characters, NVIDIA ACE now supports the open source Qwen3-8B small language model (SLM) for on-device deployment.
    [Learn more](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/nvidia-ace-adds-open-source-qwen3-slm-for-on-device-deployment-in-pc-games/)

15. Blog  
    DLSS|RTX GPU|RTX Kit  
    ### NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 Delivers Super Resolution Upgrades and New Dynamic Multi Frame Generation
    NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation has become the fastest-adopted NVIDIA gaming technology ever. Over 250 games and apps use it to make real-time path…
    [Learn more](https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/nvidia-dlss-4-5-delivers-super-resolution-upgrades-and-new-dynamic-multi-frame-generation/)