ATI Technologies RADEON X1650 - Manual (Page 52)

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CHAPTER 9:
Glossary
2D
Acronym for “two dimensional,” a term applied to computer graphics that
are “flat.” Typical desktop applications such as word processors,
spreadsheet programs, or other programs that manipulate print or simple
graphics (such as pictures or line art) are generally considered to be
operating within a 2D environment, even when they include simple three
dimensional elements, such as buttons.
3D
Acronym for “three dimensional,” referring to computer graphics that
appear to have volume and depth. Various modeling processes take the
representation of a three dimensional object provided by the computer
program and render it by using various lighting components, applying
textures, and setting layers of transparency or opacity as required in order
to produce a realistic representation of a three-dimensional object on a two-
dimensional display.
3Dc ™
An ATI hardware-based compression technology that reduces the size of
3D texture data, rendering more finely-grained texture surfaces with
greater efficiency. It significantly minimizes the memory footprint of
normal maps containing information on how light reflects off textured
surfaces, allowing game programmers to include more texture and lighting
details without affecting performance.