This disclosure relates to simulating the light-reflective condition of an object when situated in a given environment. A spatial irradiance mapping of the environment may be obtained, from which a series of directional incidence light sources are determined. The reflective qualities of the object may be modeled as a bi-directional reflection distribution function to be applied to directional incidence light sources. The spatial irradiance mapping and/or bi-directional reflection distribution function may be obtained according to image-based techniques.