In computer graphics, texture splatting is a method for combining different textures. It works by applying an alphamap (also called a "weightmap" or a "splat map") to the higher levels, thereby revealing the layers underneath where the alphamap is partially or completely transparent. The term was coined by Crawfis et al.[1]
Example of texture splatting, except an additional alphamap is applied
Since texture splatting is commonly used for terrain rendering in computer games, various optimizations are required. Because the underlying principle is for each texture to have its own alpha channel, large amounts of memory can easily be consumed. As a solution to this problem, multiple alpha maps can be combined into one texture using the red channel for one map, the blue for another, and so on. This effectively uses a single texture to supply alpha maps for four real-color textures. The alpha textures can also use a lower resolution than the color textures, and often the color textures can be tiled.
Terrains can also be split into chunks where each chunk can have its own textures. Say there is a certain texture on one part of the terrain that doesn’t appear anywhere else on it: it would be a waste of memory and processing time if the alpha map extended over the whole terrain if only 10% of it was actually required. If the terrain is split into chunks then the alpha map can also be split up according to the chunks and so now instead of 90% of that specific map being wasted only 20% may be.
Related techniquesedit
Alpha-based texture splatting, though simple, gives rather unnatural transitions. Height-based texture blending attempts to improve on quality by blending based on a heightmap of each texture.[2]
Crawfis, Roger and Nelson Max, Texture Splats for 3D Vector and Scalar Field Visualization, Proceedings Visualization '93 (October 1993), IEEE CS Press, Los Alamitos, pp. 261–266.
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texture, splatting, computer, graphics, texture, splatting, method, combining, different, textures, works, applying, alphamap, also, called, weightmap, splat, higher, levels, thereby, revealing, layers, underneath, where, alphamap, partially, completely, trans. In computer graphics texture splatting is a method for combining different textures It works by applying an alphamap also called a weightmap or a splat map to the higher levels thereby revealing the layers underneath where the alphamap is partially or completely transparent The term was coined by Crawfis et al 1 Example of texture splatting except an additional alphamap is appliedContents 1 Optimizations 2 Related techniques 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOptimizations editSince texture splatting is commonly used for terrain rendering in computer games various optimizations are required Because the underlying principle is for each texture to have its own alpha channel large amounts of memory can easily be consumed As a solution to this problem multiple alpha maps can be combined into one texture using the red channel for one map the blue for another and so on This effectively uses a single texture to supply alpha maps for four real color textures The alpha textures can also use a lower resolution than the color textures and often the color textures can be tiled Terrains can also be split into chunks where each chunk can have its own textures Say there is a certain texture on one part of the terrain that doesn t appear anywhere else on it it would be a waste of memory and processing time if the alpha map extended over the whole terrain if only 10 of it was actually required If the terrain is split into chunks then the alpha map can also be split up according to the chunks and so now instead of 90 of that specific map being wasted only 20 may be Related techniques editAlpha based texture splatting though simple gives rather unnatural transitions Height based texture blending attempts to improve on quality by blending based on a heightmap of each texture 2 See also editAlpha compositing Blend modes Splatting a volume rendering technique Texture mappingReferences edit Texture Splats for 3D Vector and Scalar Field Visualization Advanced Terrain Texture Splatting www gamasutra com External links editCharles Bloom on Texture Splatting Texture Splatting in Direct3D Crawfis Roger and Nelson Max Texture Splats for 3D Vector and Scalar Field Visualization Proceedings Visualization 93 October 1993 IEEE CS Press Los Alamitos pp 261 266 nbsp This computer graphics related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Texture splatting amp oldid 1038889858, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
