Flat Shading
Flat shading is a simple shading technique in computer graphics that applies a single, uniform color to each polygon of a 3D model, based on the polygon's surface normal and lighting conditions. It does not interpolate colors across the polygon surface, resulting in a faceted appearance where each polygon is distinctly visible. This method is computationally inexpensive and was commonly used in early 3D graphics and real-time applications where performance was critical.
Developers should learn flat shading when working on low-poly art styles, retro games, or performance-constrained applications like embedded systems or mobile games, as it reduces rendering overhead. It's also useful for educational purposes to understand basic lighting models before advancing to more complex techniques like Gouraud or Phong shading. In modern contexts, it can be applied for stylistic effects in indie games or to simulate vintage graphics in emulators.