A caustic is a mathematical curve which defines the way light passes through a curved material surface. In CGI, caustics are calculated as mathematical curves by ray tracers to create photorealistic images of translucent curved surfaces.
For example, the light passing through a wine glass can be defined by a caustic.
Caustics may also be dynamic, for example, to define the rippling effect of light that passes through a surface of water.
3D, Dynamic, Software terms
