A normal map is a texture storing surface normal direction vectors, used to simulate fine details on 3D models without increasing polygon count. It tricks render engines into perceiving bumps, grooves, or scratches by guiding light reflection.
- **Encodes normals**: Stores direction data that tells light how to bounce, creating the illusion of depth. - **Baking process**: Artists transfer details from high-poly (intricate) to low-poly models by baking normals, preserving detail without extra polygons. - **Performance balance**: Enables low-poly models to look detailed, crucial for games, animations, and visualizations where performance matters.
This method efficiently adds realism while keeping models lightweight.