<span class="cf0">One of the methods for producing </span><span class="cf0">photorealistic map illustrations</span><span class="cf0"> that also happen to be topographically accurate is the combination of a high-resolution DEM (Digital Elevation Model) with realistic texturing and lighting done by the specialists. The process involves starting with extremely accurate elevation data to generate a precise terrain model. The surface is covered with real-world textures or satellite images to make it more appealing to the eye, and after that, lighting and shading techniques are applied to simulate the real sunlight. Accurate vector features like roads, borders, and contours are merged with the ground to keep the integrity of the data. Finally, rendering engines such as Blender Cycles or Unreal Engine are being used to impart natural reflections and shadows to the scene, thus obtaining a compromise between the photorealistic and the geographically accurate ones.</span>