Textureels

Textureels are a concept in computer graphics used to represent and manipulate surface properties. The term is a portmanteau of "texture" and "elements." Essentially, textureels are individual units or samples within a texture map that store information about a surface's appearance. This information can include color, reflectivity, bumpiness, or transparency.

When a 3D model is rendered, textureel data is projected onto the model's surfaces to provide detail. Different types of textureels can exist, each encoding specific visual attributes. For instance, a color textureel stores RGB values, while a normal map textureel stores directional data to simulate surface irregularities without adding extra geometry. The resolution of a texture map, defined by the number of textureels it contains, directly impacts the level of detail achievable in the rendered image. Higher resolution texture maps with more textureels generally result in more realistic and finely detailed surfaces.

The process of sampling textureels is crucial in rendering. During rendering, the graphics hardware interpolates between discrete textureel values to achieve smooth transitions across surfaces. This interpolation method, along with the texture mapping coordinates, determines how the textureel data is applied to the model. Textureel management and efficient sampling are important considerations for optimizing rendering performance and visual fidelity in real-time graphics applications like video games and virtual reality.