What are textures and who needs them?

The visual appearance of things is given by their surfaces. How we see an object is, simplified speaking, determined by its color and structure. Therefore, to make virtual things look as if they were real, a realistic imitation of real surfaces is essential. To reach this, so-called textures are used.

Basically textures are (mostly photographic) pictures of materials. These images are projected onto a model of a virtual object to simulate the visual characteristics of the real material and thus, to make it look real.

Wether architect, artist or designer - if you want to give the visualization of your ideas a more realistic look, you're dependent on high-quality textures.