Vertex Painting
Vertex painting is a 3D modeling and texturing technique used in computer graphics software to apply color, texture, or material data directly to the vertices of a 3D mesh. It allows artists to paint attributes like color, alpha transparency, or custom data onto individual vertices, which can then be interpolated across the mesh surface for effects such as blending, weathering, or procedural texturing. This method is commonly used in game development, visual effects, and 3D animation for creating detailed surface variations without relying solely on traditional UV-mapped textures.
Developers should learn vertex painting when working on 3D projects that require dynamic or blended surface effects, such as terrain texturing in games, character customization, or visual simulations where real-time performance is critical. It is particularly useful in game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine for applying decals, wear-and-tear, or environmental blending directly onto models, reducing texture memory usage and enabling more flexible asset creation compared to static texture maps.