Antialiasing

2 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  antialiasing
       n : (computer graphics) a technique that is used to smoothe
           jagged distortions in curves and diagonal lines so they
           appear smoother

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:



  anti-aliasing
       
           A technique used on a {grey-scale} or colour
          {bitmap display} to make diagonal edges appear smoother by
          setting {pixels} near the edge to intermediate colours
          according to where the edge crosses them.
       
          The most common example is black characters on a white
          background.  Without anti-aliasing, diagonal edges appear
          jagged, like staircases, which may be noticeable on a low
          {resolution} display.  If the display can show intermediate
          greys then anti-aliasing can be applied.  A pixel will be
          black if it is completely within the black area, or white if
          it is completely outside the black area, or an intermediate
          shade of grey according to the proportions of it which overlap
          the black and white areas.  The technique works similarly with
          other foreground and background colours.
       
          "Aliasing" refers to the fact that many points (which would
          differ in the real image) are mapped or "aliased" to the same
          pixel (with a single value) in the digital representation.
       
          (1998-03-13)