Self-shadowing

This article is about computer graphics lighting effect. For the electron microscope specimen surface feature enhancement, see electron microscope. For the psychology concept, see shadow self.

File:Doom3Marine.jpg

Doom 3 demonstrates unified lighting and shadowing, allowing for self-shadowing via shadow volumes

Self-Shadowing is a computer graphics lighting effect, used in 3D rendering applications such as computer animation and video games. Self-shadowing allows non-static objects in the environment, such as game characters and interactive objects (buckets, chairs, etc.), to cast shadows on themselves and each other. For example, without self-shadowing, if a character puts his or her right arm over the left, the right arm will not cast a shadow over the left arm. If that same character places a hand over a ball, that hand will cast a shadow over the ball.

See also

• Shadow mapping
• Shadow volume
• Unified lighting and shadowing