When light refracts through or reflects off of a surface, these bent rays are focused together, creating a bright pattern referred to as a caustic.
| Refractive Caustic |
Reflective Caustic |
|---|
 |
 |
| The light refracts through the wine glass. |
The light reflects off the gold ring. |
In addition to reflective and refractive, there are two other types of caustics:
- Indirect caustics
- Caustics created by indirect lighting (scene illumination).
- Indirect refractive caustics are always on in SolidWorks.
- Indirect reflective caustics are always off in SolidWorks.
- Direct caustics
- Caustics created by direct lighting, including spot or point lights.
Directional lights do not affect direct or indirect caustics.
Direct caustics are only visible when reflected off a floor appearance or real geometry. To turn on direct caustics, click and use the PropertyManager. Direct caustics are only visible in the final render image.