Picture of Warp3D Running Natively on AmigaOne

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@Rogue

Good work to all involved.

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@Mikeymike

It is a graphics function that calculates out effects on a per-pixel basis as opposed to per-vertex.  It is great for creating ambience, giving materials and surfaces that little something to make it that much more realistic.  So, using pixel shaders, you can give that 3D rendered face a bunch of zits or some stubble that looks more realistic than before.

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@TheJackal

Hey, I beat ya both to it, so 8P

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@mikeymike

it does both, actually.  You can do it the old-fashioned way, the new-fashioned way, or do both at once.  The best pixelshader effects I've seen have used vertex shading combined with pixel shading for maximum effect.

As Rogue pointed out, Doom 3 uses pixel shading for lighting effects, and it shines there.  The place I find it most useful, however, is in water surfaces, adding a reflection to the surface.