Pseudotekstuurit

Pseudotekstuurit, or pseudotextures, are a technique used in computer graphics to simulate detailed surface appearance without the computational cost of high-resolution geometry or complex shaders. Instead of modifying the actual 3D model, pseudotextures store and reapply existing geometric information. This is achieved by rendering the scene from a specific viewpoint and capturing the resulting geometric data, such as surface normals, depth, or object IDs.

This captured data is then stored as a texture map. During rendering from a different viewpoint, this pseudotexture is sampled. The stored geometric information is then used to influence the shading and rendering process, mimicking the appearance of the original detailed surface. For example, a pseudotexture storing normal data can be used to simulate complex lighting effects on a simpler mesh.

The primary advantage of pseudotextures is their efficiency. They allow for the visual representation of intricate details, such as wrinkles, bumps, or complex patterns, on low-polygon models, significantly reducing rendering time and memory requirements. This makes them particularly useful for real-time applications like video games, especially on less powerful hardware.

However, pseudotextures have limitations. They are view-dependent, meaning the effect can break down or appear incorrect when the viewpoint changes significantly from the one used to capture the pseudotexture. They also do not alter the actual geometry, so they cannot simulate self-shadowing or parallax effects accurately without additional techniques. Despite these drawbacks, pseudotextures remain a valuable tool for achieving impressive visual fidelity with optimized performance.