ReliefDisplacement

ReliefDisplacement is a term used in computer graphics and game development to describe a rendering technique that adds depth and detail to a surface by deforming its geometry based on a texture map. Unlike normal mapping, which only alters the lighting calculations without changing the actual geometry, relief displacement directly modifies the vertices of a mesh. This modification is driven by a heightmap, where different pixel values in the texture correspond to varying levels of displacement.

The core idea behind relief displacement is to create the illusion of intricate surfaces, such as sculpted stone, rough terrain, or detailed fabric, without the computational cost of modeling and rendering extremely high-polygon geometry. The heightmap essentially acts as a set of instructions, telling the rendering engine how much to push or pull each part of the surface outward or inward. This results in a more physically accurate representation of depth and shadow.

However, relief displacement can be computationally more expensive than techniques like normal mapping. Because it alters the actual geometry, it often requires more processing power, especially when dealing with dynamic scenes or complex surfaces. It can also introduce visual artifacts if not implemented carefully, such as self-intersection or aliasing on highly displaced areas. Despite these challenges, relief displacement remains a powerful tool for achieving realistic visual fidelity in demanding applications.