12-03-2013, 07:01 AM
That's bump mapping.
Think of it as a texture that instead of showing colors, it shows highlights and shadows. Think aritifical detail.
It allows you to give off the impression of high polycount on a low poly model.
If you look at the image with the blue thing, look at the base and you'll see that it's actually just a simple box, but the bump mapping baked onto it allows it to appear as though it has more detail.
A bump map combined with a UV map can make a lowpoly model look highpoly, but if you get up close it's obviously just a visual trick. It's commonly used in games now though.
Think of it as a texture that instead of showing colors, it shows highlights and shadows. Think aritifical detail.
It allows you to give off the impression of high polycount on a low poly model.
If you look at the image with the blue thing, look at the base and you'll see that it's actually just a simple box, but the bump mapping baked onto it allows it to appear as though it has more detail.
A bump map combined with a UV map can make a lowpoly model look highpoly, but if you get up close it's obviously just a visual trick. It's commonly used in games now though.
![[Image: ndsMEF0.gif]](http://i.imgur.com/ndsMEF0.gif)
![[Image: sig.gif]](http://backloggery.com/vipershark/sig.gif)