在三维计算机图形的贴图渲染中有一个常用的技术被称为Mipmapping。为了加快渲染速度和减少图像锯齿，贴图被处理成由一系列被预先计算和优化过的图片组成的文档,这样的贴图被称为 MIP map 或者 mipmap。这个技术在三维游戏中被非常广泛的使用。“MIP”来自于拉丁语 multum in parvo 的首字母，意思是“放置很多东西的小空间”。Mipmap 需要占用一定的内存空间，同时也遵循小波压缩规则 （wavelet compression）。

In computer graphics, mipmaps (also MIP maps) or pyramids are pre-calculated, optimized sequences of images, each of which is a progressively lower resolution representation of the same image. The height and width of each image, or level, in the mipmap is a power of two smaller than the previous level. Mipmaps do not have to be square. They are intended to increase rendering speed and reduce aliasing artifacts. A high-resolution mipmap image is used for high-density samples, such as for objects close to the camera. Lower-resolution images are used as the object appears farther away. This is a more efficient way of downfiltering (minifying) a texture than sampling all texels in the original texture that would contribute to a screen pixel; it is faster to take a constant number of samples from the appropriately downfiltered textures. Mipmaps are widely used in 3D computer games, flight simulators, other 3D imaging systems for texture filtering and 2D as well as 3D GIS software. Their use is known as mipmapping. The letters "MIP" in the name are an acronym of the Latin phrase multum in parvo, meaning "much in little". Since mipmaps, by definition, are pre-allocated, additional storage space is required to take advantage of them. They are also related to wavelet compression. Mipmap textures are used in 3D scenes to decrease the time required to render a scene. They also improve the scene's realism, at the cost of 1/3 more memory per texture.