Shadow Mapping

Computer Graphics · Shadows · 1978 · shadow-mapping.yaml

Renders depth from the light's point of view, then compares each shaded point against it. Image-based, so cost is independent of geometric complexity, and every artifact it has traces back to that finite resolution.

• supersedescorrects · extends
• classifiesspecializes · part-of
• substitutes forapproximates · alternative-to
• depends onrequires · validates

Colour is the family; a dashed line is the second member of it.

This node

• requiresdoes not work without Rasterizationthe depth image comes from an ordinary raster pass

Referenced by

• correctsCascaded Shadow Maps fixes a defect in thisone map cannot cover a whole frustum's depth range
• correctsPercentage-Closer Filtering fixes a defect in thisa single depth compare gives hard, aliased edges
• alternative-toRay-Traced Shadows is a competing approach to thisno resolution or bias artifacts, but noise instead
• alternative-toShadow Volumes is a competing approach to thisexact silhouettes, but fill-rate bound

References

• Casting Curved Shadows on Curved Surfaces — Williams — 1978 · link
• Background — Shadow mapping on Wikipedia