1. A computer-implemented process for efficiently representing an object to allow the synthesizing of photo-realistic images of the object that depicts both diffuse and specular reflections, said process comprising using a computer to perform the following process actions: inputting images of the object; inputting a 3D model of the object; computing a global texture map which specifies an intensity value for the diffuse reflection from each portion of the surface of the object as modeled in the 3D model using the input images; computing a separate specular reflection image from each input image and the global texture map which specifies an intensity value for the specular reflection from each modeled portion of the surface of the object depicted in the input image under consideration; modeling the illumination distribution of the environment surrounding the object from the specular reflection images; and estimating the surface spectral magnitude and surface roughness of the object.