Metal Programming Guide: Tutorial and Reference via Swift

14. Geometry Unleashed: Tessellation in Metal

Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible. I think it’s in my basement. . . . let me go upstairs and check.—M. C. Escher

In graphics programming, you have to balance details with performance. Having incredibly realistic models can look amazing, but it will also be a major drag on your frame rate. One way you’ve already learned to add detail without geometry is texture mapping, but that has its own limitations. An image of a mountainside will not generate new shadows as the light source moves because it’s a flat image. There is another way to add detail without creating a drag on your GPU: tessellation.

Removing Bottlenecks by Using Tessellation

Tessellation is the process of taking ...