Sylinteriprojektiossa

Sylinteriprojektiossa, known in English as cylindrical projection, is a method of mapping a three-dimensional cylindrical surface onto a two-dimensional plane. This process is commonly used in cartography and computer graphics to represent data or imagery that originates from a cylindrical form. Imagine unrolling the surface of a cylinder into a flat sheet; this is the fundamental concept behind cylindrical projection.

In cartography, cylindrical projections are often employed to create world maps. Famous examples include the Mercator projection and the Gall-Peters projection. The Mercator projection, while preserving angles and shapes locally, distorts areas significantly, making landmasses near the poles appear much larger than they are in reality. The Gall-Peters projection, conversely, aims to maintain area accuracy but distorts shapes. The choice of projection depends on the intended use of the map and the compromises one is willing to make regarding distortion.

In computer graphics, cylindrical projection can be used to apply textures to cylindrical objects like cans, pillars, or even to create panoramic views. The texture, initially a flat image, is "wrapped" around the virtual cylinder. This is achieved by defining how points on the 2D texture correspond to points on the 3D cylindrical surface. The projection essentially defines a coordinate system for this mapping. The mathematical basis often involves trigonometric functions, relating angles on the cylinder to coordinates on the flat plane.