
458 11. Algorithms for procedural textures
Step
Step
Ramp
Hermite
x
x
x
Ramp
Figure 11.3: Applying a ra mp transition between the colored dot and the background
removes the unpleasant aliasing effects that are very noticeable when a step transition
is used.
The coefficients u, v and w are used as texture coordinates in calculating the
surface shading. To make the texture appear larger or smaller or be distorted,
they can be scaled before calling the texture function.
As we have s een , if U, V and W form an orthogonal basis then u, v and w
may be easily calculated. For a non-orthogonal basis a set of three simultaneous
equations must be solved every time the