Infinite Tunnel Graphics: Building Depth Without an Endpoint
An endless tunnel is a precision trick: geometry repeats, but the repetition is arranged so that the viewer experiences continuity rather than a tiled pattern.
Closed curves remove the seam
A 3D tunnel can be built by extruding a cross-section along a closed spline. If the start and end position, tangent, and framing agree, the camera can travel around the curve repeatedly without encountering a geometric endpoint.
A moving reference frame keeps the tube stable
Curved extrusion needs a consistent local orientation. Tangent, normal, and binormal vectors provide a moving frame along the curve so the tunnel cross-section can follow bends without uncontrolled flips or collapse.
Shader tunnels repeat depth instead of meshes
In a fragment shader, the tunnel can be implicit. A depth-like coordinate moves continuously through periodic bands while angular coordinates rotate and warp. The viewer reads the changing scale and radial perspective as forward travel.
Fog and contrast hide repetition
Depth attenuation, restrained color drift, and variation across repeated cells prevent the eye from locking onto a simple tile. These effects also concentrate visual energy near a focal region, strengthening the sensation of distance.