Simulating reflection with cube maps

Textures can be used to simulate a surface that has a component which is purely reflective (a mirror-like surface such as chrome). In order to do so, we need a texture that is representative of the environment surrounding the reflective object. This texture could then be mapped onto the surface of the object in a way that represents how it would look when reflected off of the surface. This general technique is known as environment mapping . In general, environment mapping involves creating a texture that is representative of the environment and mapping it onto the surface of an object. It is typically used to simulate the effects of reflection or refraction.

A cube map is one of the more common varieties of textures used in environment mapping. A cube map is a set of six separate images that represent the environment projected onto each of the six faces of a cube. The six images represent a view of the environment from the point of view of a viewer located...