Think of texture mapping like wrapping a present. Each side of the box you are wrapping is a blank polygon. You could paint the box, but it would be very difficult to make it match all the designs on the wrapping paper. However, if you take the wrapping paper and tightly cover the box with it, you have completely transformed the box with just a little effort. Texture mapping works the same way.
Mapping requires the use of another image.
This other image essentially is stretched over the object like a skin. Most video game consoles and computer graphics adapters contain a special chip and dedicated memory that stores the special images used for texture mapping and applies them to each polygon on the fly. This allows games such as Tomb Raider to have incredibly detailed 3-D environments that you can interact with in real time. Inc. All rights reserved.