Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 13.24.
The cow's tail. Top row: smooth shading (left), improved outer tessellation
(right). Botom row: improved outer and inner tessellation (left), and detail (right).
Summary
Like many sophisticated features, tessellation shaders are very useful. There
are many times when you would like to be able to specify a small amount of
geometric detail and end up with a much larger amount. Those who have
used RenderMan are already used to this because of RenderMan's automatic
“microfaceting” feature. While OpenGL's tessellation shaders are not exactly
the same as automated microfaceting, they are useful in many of the same
ways. Thus, we can now perform some of the same surfacing and displace-
ment mapping for which RenderMan has been so successfully used, but at
interactive speeds.
