tessellation

the method used to represent 3D objects as a collection of triangles not used in 2d

The more the triangles, the more realistic the render will be

Tessellation is not used in 2d graphics

What is the importance of tessellation?

https://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/1936-what-is-tessellation-game-graphics

Tessellation is a way of doubling [the triangles] on the graphics hardware – so what was two triangles becomes four, what was eight becomes sixteen, and so on. When we do that, that allows us to do things like displacement or smoothing and increase the apparent detail. This not only makes the surface look higher resolution, [but also adds] bumps and hills and valleys that weren't there before. You get a much higher fidelity surface.”

-Alan Willard

"Epic biases displacement in tessellation based on camera distance. A small object far away doesn't need to spend performance for [tessellation]. Think of a wall as a flat surface. You can do a lot of shader tricks to make it look better – what we call 'bump offset,' where we shift the location of pixels based on the camera angle – and that can give you the sense that the bricks have depth and are coming out of the surface. What you'll never get is a silhouette off of that kind of technique. Displacement and tessellation allow us to increase triangle density and then push and pull those triangles in, out, to the sides to get those shapes to come off of that surface. Lighting and shadowing can work with those shapes to sell the final look.”

-Alan Willard

Epic Games

-there are limitations to tesselation

-using tesselation at faraway distances is unneeded and most likely creates longer render times

-"higher fidelity surfaces"

-a blank walk looks interesting with what Epic Games calks "bump offset". Creating shaders to make the wall look interesting depending on where camera is situated.

-epic games uses displacement with tessellation.

Explanation of tesselation:

https://youtu.be/WfhhhPQ1lDc

-tesselation is the enabler where maps can be added to make a scene look more realistic

SOURCE:

https://www.yourdictionary.com/tessellation#computer