Høydereliefteksturer

Høydereliefteksturer, often referred to as heightmaps, are grayscale images used in 3D computer graphics to represent the surface displacement of a 3D model. In essence, each pixel's brightness value corresponds to a specific height or depth. White pixels typically indicate the highest points, black pixels the lowest, and shades of gray represent intermediate elevations. This technique allows for the simulation of surface details such as bumps, wrinkles, and imperfections without the need for complex modeling or a high polygon count.

Heightmaps are fundamental in generating realistic terrain in video games and simulations. By applying a heightmap to a flat plane, developers can create mountains, valleys, and other geographical features. Beyond terrain, they are also used to add surface detail to objects like stone walls, rough fabrics, or metallic surfaces, enhancing their visual realism.

The creation of heightmaps can be done through various methods. Digital sculpting software allows artists to manually paint or sculpt height data. Procedural generation techniques can also be employed to create complex and natural-looking patterns. Furthermore, real-world data, such as from photogrammetry or Lidar scans, can be converted into heightmaps. When applied to a 3D model, the heightmap data is typically interpreted by a shader, which uses the grayscale values to displace the vertices of the model or to perturb the surface normals, creating the illusion of depth and texture. This method is highly efficient, as it avoids increasing the geometric complexity of the mesh itself.