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They aren't wrong. Regarding the comments and images in the linked article, there's a key point made there that's fundamentally wrong. Let me pick out a quote
by rleigh 10y ago
They aren't wrong. Regarding the comments and images in the linked article, there's a key point made there that's fundamentally wrong. Let me pick out a quote:
"We all get how pixels basically work. A computer divides a display into squares, and each square can be assigned one RGB value at a time. The total squares supported by the hardware is the device’s “resolution.” This square grid is the smallest possible subdivision of detail available to an artist."
This is the bit that's fundamentally wrong. Pixels are not squares. And never have been. They are "point samples". The fact that "magnified" pixel art displayed here compounds the error by displaying big squares rather than using an appropriate reconstruction filter doesn't help correct the misconception.
Here's a link to a classic paper on the topic: http://alvyray.com/Memos/CG/Microsoft/6_pixel.pdf http://alvyray.com/Memos/CG/Microsoft/6_pixel.pdf
- mrob 10y agoIn the case of pixel art, they are not point samples. The signal is not band-limited and the "aliasing" is deliberate and controlled. It's the same technique as font hinting.
- rleigh 10y agoThis is a totally valid artistic choice, and they are welcome to do that. I certainly enjoy it myself when it's well done. But... it's not pixel art anymore, it's square art. And if people want to create neo-pointilist/neo-divisionist artwork based upon a grid of coloured squares that's fine. But it's not pixels.
- mrob 10y agoI can understand it being annoying, especially if you have a DSP background, but the name is well established. Language changes over time and "pixel" has gained another meaning. I don't think you're going to convince anybody to switch to "neo-pointilist".
- makomk 10y agoNope, it's exactly pixel art, because in the real world pixels were never simply point samples - indeed, few things are because they're not physically possible. (It's a reasonably approximation for audio, mostly because there's a truly massive amount of oversampling happening behind the scenes to make it work.) Pixel art takes advantage of the fact that pixels are not point samples and never were.