pixolbased

Pixolbased is an adjective used in computer graphics to describe systems and workflows that rely on the pixol data model. A pixol is a per-pixel record that stores not only color information but also depth and optional surface attributes. In pixol-based canvases, each (x, y) location on the image carries additional data, typically including a depth value (z) and shading attributes, allowing multiple layers and materials to coexist at the same image location.

Brushes and rendering operations write and blend pixols, enabling real-time depth-aware painting, volumetric effects, and occlusion-aware compositing. This approach yields a 2.5D illusion: painters can sculpt and paint as if working on a solid form, with occlusion and perspective determined by the stored depth values rather than by a separate 3D mesh.

History and usage of the term reflect its origins in discussions of early 3D painting tools and research prototypes. Pixol-based workflows are less common in general-purpose image editing, but they have influenced later depth-aware painting and layered texture workflows. In practice, pixol-based systems emphasize per-pixel depth alongside color, which can improve realism for certain effects but increases memory usage and computational complexity compared with conventional raster imagery. They are often discussed in the context of 2.5D painting, depth maps, and voxel-like approaches that attempt to fuse 2D canvases with 3D depth information.

See also: depth map, 2.5D painting, voxel painting.