Editing Rendering (computer graphics) (section)

=== Photogrammetry and scanning ===
Photographs of real world objects can be incorporated into a rendered scene by using them as [[Texture mapping|textures]] for 3D objects. Photos of a scene can also be stitched together to create [[panorama|panoramic images]] or [[Reflection mapping|environment maps]], which allow the scene to be rendered very efficiently but only from a single viewpoint. Scanning of real objects and scenes using [[Structured-light 3D scanner|structured light]] or [[lidar]] produces [[point cloud]]s consisting of the coordinates of millions of individual points in space, sometimes along with color information. These point clouds may either be rendered directly or [[Point cloud#Conversion to 3D surfaces|converted into meshes]] before rendering. (Note: "point cloud" sometimes also refers to a minimalist rendering style that can be used for any 3D geometry, similar to wireframe rendering.){{r|n=AkenineMöller2018|loc=13.3, 13.9}}{{r|n=Raghavachary2005|loc=1.3}}