shaded

Shaded is an adjective describing something protected from direct light or receiving reduced illumination. A shaded area is cooler and dimmer than areas in full sun, and colors viewed in shade can appear less saturated or cooler.

In visual arts, shading is the technique of depicting light, shadow, and volume. Artists use methods such as shading with hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, or blending to create gradual value changes that suggest form and texture.

In computer graphics, shading refers to algorithms that simulate how light interacts with surfaces. Flat shading assigns a single color to a polygon; Gouraud shading and Phong shading interpolate colors or normals to produce smoother highlights. Modern renderers employ physically based shading models that aim to reproduce real-world light behavior, including metallicity, roughness, ambient occlusion, and global illumination.

In cartography and design, shaded relief or hill shading conveys terrain by simulating light and shadow to depict elevation and slope. Shading analyses in architecture and urban planning assess how buildings cast shadows, informing solar access, energy design, and visual impact.

Shaded can also describe colors mixed with gray to reduce saturation, yielding cooler or darker tones. The term derives from shade, with roots in Old English sceadu. Without additional context, shaded does not denote a single, specific entity but rather a general concept applied across disciplines.