hillshade
Topographic shadow visualization
Hillshade is a cartographic technique that simulates how sunlight would fall across terrain, creating shadows that reveal elevation and slope.
The effect makes flat maps appear three-dimensional, helping viewers perceive mountains, valleys, and ridgelines at a glance.
The hillshade layer showed the canyon's depth better than contour lines alone.
Height above reference point
- slopeAngled terrain or steepness
- aspectFeature or dimension
- azimuthHorizontal directional angle
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
illumination · GIS · raster · geospatial · visualization · rendering · basemap · relief map
Narrow raised strip
- valleyLow ground between heights
- slopeAngled terrain or steepness
- peakUtmost height attained
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
plateau · summit · canyon · butte · mesa · knoll · spur · drainage
elevation
Height above reference point
altitude · illumination · GIS · raster · geospatial · visualization · rendering · basemap · relief map · topographic map
ridge
Narrow raised strip
escarpment · plateau · summit · canyon · butte · mesa · knoll · spur · drainage · landform
chiaroscuro
Contrast technique in painting
- illuminationProvision of light
- lightingArt of illuminating spaces
- gradientRate of change across space
grayscale · contrast · brightness · penumbra · oblique · diffuse · ambient · highlight · tone · texture