Bumpmapping

Bumpmapping is a computer graphics technique used to simulate surface detail and texture on three-dimensional objects without modifying their underlying geometry. By altering the surface normals at each pixel during rendering, bumpmapping creates the illusion of bumps, wrinkles, and other surface irregularities, enhancing visual complexity and realism.

Typically implemented in real-time rendering systems, bumpmapping utilizes texture maps known as bump maps or normal maps. These maps store information about the surface's perturbations, where the color values correspond to the direction of surface normals. When applied, lighting calculations consider these modified normals, resulting in variations in shading that mimic surface detail.

Bumpmapping does not alter the object's geometry; instead, it affects how light interacts with the surface. This distinguishes it from displacement mapping, which physically modifies the mesh geometry to create actual surface features. Bumpmapping is computationally efficient, making it suitable for real-time applications like video games and interactive simulations.

The technique was popularized in the early 1990s and has since evolved into more advanced methods such as normal mapping and parallax mapping, which provide even more realistic surface details. Despite its simplicity, bumpmapping remains a fundamental tool in computer graphics for adding complexity and depth to surfaces without increasing polygon counts.

In summary, bumpmapping is a valuable graphics technique for enhancing visual detail with minimal performance overhead, contributing significantly to the realism of rendered scenes while maintaining computational efficiency.