Create 3D Graphics in Excel Using Ray Marching

What is Ray Marching?

Ray marching is an advanced form of ray tracing, where a beam of light is calculated based on its distance to the nearest surface. This technique is highly mathematical but can be implemented in software like Excel.

Implementation in Excel

An ingenious user has managed to develop a ray marching-based game in Excel. The algorithm operates by launching a beam from the camera's viewpoint and measuring the distance to three-dimensional functions. When the distance falls below a certain threshold, it is considered a collision with a surface. Based on this, the pixel brightness is calculated using a simple shader, and the result is rendered through variable formatting of the cells in the spreadsheet.

Compatibility and Resources

The tutorial is compatible with any modern spreadsheet program, including Google Sheets and LibreOffice Calc. It also provides an excellent explanation of the mathematics and concepts behind ray marching, making it useful regardless of your opinion on Excel as a programming language.

More About Computer Graphics

This is not the first time we encounter a ray tracing tutorial. If you are passionate about computer graphics, be sure to check out the tutorial "Ray Tracing in a Weekend."