What is the goal of height mapping in material applications?

Height mapping is primarily used in material applications to enhance visual depth on the surface of a 3D model while maintaining a flat mesh. This technique utilizes grayscale images where the brightness of each pixel correlates with the height of the texture, allowing for the illusion of depth and surface detail without additional geometry. By using height maps, artists can create more complex surfaces, such as bumps or dents, making objects appear more realistic and visually engaging without the computational cost of increasing the polygon count.

The other options do not directly relate to the primary function of height mapping. Modifying color saturation pertains to color texture manipulation, animated textures involve frame sequences for movement, and simplifying UV mapping affects how textures are applied rather than the depth perception created by height mapping. Thus, option A accurately represents the goal of height mapping.