NormalMaps
Normal maps are textures used in 3D computer graphics to simulate fine surface detail by altering the per-pixel lighting calculations. A normal map encodes normal vectors in texture space, allowing lighting to react as if the surface had more geometry than it actually does.
Most normal maps encode the X, Y, and Z components in the red, green, and blue channels
Normal maps are typically created by baking high-poly details onto a low-poly mesh or painted by hand
Common formats include 8-bit per channel images such as PNG, TGA, or DDS, often combined with standard
Limitations include that normal maps influence only shading, not silhouette; they can cause artifacts if the
History notes: normal mapping was popularized in the early 2000s as a computationally efficient alternative to