The normal map allows these details to be simulated without the extra polygons used to create them. These details are then re-created using a normal map that is applied back onto a simplified version of the object. Normal maps calculate the lighting results used to light small details that stick out from the surface of an object.

Rendering textures is a significant part of the rendering process, and baking a texture doesn't remove this step it simply completes the step beforehand, so that the game engine doesn't need to do the texture calculations.Īnother common efficiency trick is to use normal maps. The process of applying pre-rendered textures as maps is called baking a texture. This allows advanced lighting solutions such as global illumination to be included within a game without requiring extra time to render such a complex solution. One of these tricks is pre-rendering textures that include all the lighting information and applying these pre-rendered textures as texture maps. To achieve this, game developers use a number of tricks designed to speed up the rendering time. 3D games pose an interesting dilemma-creating interactive scenes that are displayed in real time with the highest quality graphics.

3ds max render to texture