This paper discusses the theories and technologies of the digital relief shading in computer.

Illumination model is one of important factors which impact digital relief shading.

In accordance with the production of map based on the theory of hillshading , the advanced OpenGL technology was used and all of the processes of computer automatic hillshading are accomplished in this paper.

Analyzing the basic principle of automatic hill-shading and methods for enhancing the 3D expression of relief in traditional hill-shading,exposure and slope are considered to be important factors to the 3D expression of hill-shading.

The research on realization of relief shading based on slope and aspect;

In this paper,taking Shenzhen Relief Map as an example,the basic theory and process of automated relief shading are introduced,and its merits are also discussed.

An approach to generate relief shading with stereoscopic vision automatically in personal computer is proposed.

Taking Chengdu region(sheet number H-48,national standard division range 1∶ 1 000 000 geomorphologic maps) as an example,this paper studies the production method of relief shading maps using software of ERDAS,MicroDEM and Global Mapper,and data source of SRTM-DEM.