Relief mapping (computer graphics)

In computer graphics, relief mapping is a texture mapping technique used to render the surface details of three-dimensional objects accurately and efficiently. It can produce accurate depictions of self-occlusion, self-shadowing, and parallax. It is a form of short-distance raytrace done in a pixel shader. Relief mapping is highly comparable in both function and approach to another displacement texture mapping technique, Parallax occlusion mapping, considering that they both rely on raytraces, though the two are not to be confused with each other, as parallax occlusion mapping uses reverse heightmap tracing.