With the introduction of the image analysis techniques, various applications have been developed in the textile and clothing research area. The shape and construction of the individual fibers that comprise a polymeric yarn bundle have a strong influence on the fabric appearance properties. One of these properties is the fabric luster. Due to the fact that textile fabrics have immense diversify in texture or appearance, it is reasonable to observe the fabric optical properties, including the luster, with changing incident illumination at micro-sectors of the specimen. Together with the measurement using a CCD camera, 3-dimensional simulated models of a cylindrical monofilament and a mesh-type monofilament fabric were rendered using photon mapping. The change in the illumination condition was found to have a strong e(feet on the observed luster of the mesh type filament fabric specimen.