Non-photorealistic rendering

Lines, simplified colors, or exaggerated shading create a stylized appearance.

Visual traits

• Stylization
• Simplified shading
• Graphic color areas

Expected changes

• Shading and color are more likely to simplify
• Graphic appearance is more likely to increase

Definition

Non-photorealistic rendering images a 3D scene through lines, flat colors, or exaggerated shading rather than making physical photographic realism the primary goal. It does not mean a particular artist, animation medium, or cel rendering alone.

In more detail

Degree of departure from realism, use of lines or shading, and color simplification can be chosen separately. It concerns image treatment, not the 3D geometry itself or a particular 2D medium.

Includes

• Stylized 3D imaging
• Shading or color areas not primarily aimed at photographic realism

Excludes

• A particular artist or work style
• A 3D modeling method
• A specific 2D medium

What this does not imply

• A particular art style
• Outlines
• Cel rendering
• 2D production

Variability

The means of stylization can be specified separately.

Usage

• Specify the direction of stylization separately

Distinguish similar expressions

• Specify the modeling method separately

Typical uses

• Create stylized 3D images

Possible failure modes

• It merely looks low quality
• It becomes imitation of a particular artist