3D Glossary--Texture Map

Texture Map

A Texture Map is a way of controlling the diffuse color of a surface on a pixel-by-pixel basis, rather than by assigning a single overall value. This is most commonly achieved by applying a color bitmap image to the surface. But color patterns can also be generated by the application itself to create what are called "procedural textures."

The term texture map is very confusing because it is actually a color map, and there are other surfacing mapping techniques that directly affect texture. But the word has stuck, and the 3-D artist has no choice but to become accustomed to it.

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