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> There's no single correct way to interpret the numbers They are just bits in a computer. But there is a correct way of to interpret them in a particular cont

> There's no single correct way to interpret the numbers They are just bits in a computer. But there is a correct way of to interpret them in a particular context. For example 32 bits can be meaningless - or it can have an interpretation as a twos complement integer which is well defined. If you are looking to understand how an operating system will display images, or how graphics drivers work, or how photoshop will edit them, or what digital cameras produce, then it’s the point sample definition.

Dylan16807 1y ago
Cameras don't take point samples. That's an approximation, just as inaccurate as a rectangle approximation. And for pixel art, the intent is usually far from points on a smooth color territory. Multiple interpretations matter within different contexts inside the computer context.
- grandempire 1y ago
  > Cameras don't take point samples. That's an approximation They use a physical process to attempt to determine light at a single point. That’s their model they try to approximate. > And for pixel art, the intent is usually far from points on a smooth color territory. And notice that to display pixel art you need to tell it to interpret the image data differently. Also it has a vastly different appearance on a CRT where it was designed which is less like a rectangle.
  - Dylan16807 1y ago
    > They use a physical process to attempt to determine light at a single point. That’s their model they try to approximate. According to who? A naked camera sensor with lens sure doesn't do that, it collects squares of light, usually in a mosaic of different colors. Any point approximation would have to be in software.
    - grandempire 1y ago
      Yep, cameras filter the input from sensors. > Any point approximation would have to be in software. Circuits can process signals too.
      - Dylan16807 1y ago
        They usually do, but their software decisions are not gospel. They don't change the nature of the underlying sensor, which grabs areas that are pretty square.
        grandempire 1y ago
        > which grabs areas And outputs what? Just because the input is an area does not mean the output is an area. What it if it outputs the peak of the distribution across the area? > that are pretty square. If we look at a camera sensor and do not see a uniform grid of packed area elements would that convince you? I notice you haven’t shared any criticism of the point model - widely understood by the field.
        Dylan16807 1y ago
        > And outputs what? Just because the input is an area does not mean the output is an area. > What it if it outputs the peak of the distribution across the area? It outputs a voltage proportional to the (filtered) photon count across the entire area. > If we look at a camera sensor and do not see a uniform grid of packed area elements would that convince you? Non-uniformity won't convince me points are a better fit, but if the median camera doesn't use a grid I'll be interested in what you have to show. > I notice you haven’t shared any criticism of the point model - widely understood by the field. This whole comment line is a criticism of the input being modeled as points, and my criticism of the output is implied by my pixel art comment above (because point-like upscaling causes a giant blur) and also exists in other comments like this one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43777957 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43777957
        1y ago

Dylan16807 1y ago

Cameras don't take point samples. That's an approximation, just as inaccurate as a rectangle approximation. And for pixel art, the intent is usually far from points on a smooth color territory. Multiple interpretations matter within different contexts inside the computer context.

grandempire 1y ago
> Cameras don't take point samples. That's an approximation They use a physical process to attempt to determine light at a single point. That’s their model they try to approximate. > And for pixel art, the intent is usually far from points on a smooth color territory. And notice that to display pixel art you need to tell it to interpret the image data differently. Also it has a vastly different appearance on a CRT where it was designed which is less like a rectangle.
- Dylan16807 1y ago
  > They use a physical process to attempt to determine light at a single point. That’s their model they try to approximate. According to who? A naked camera sensor with lens sure doesn't do that, it collects squares of light, usually in a mosaic of different colors. Any point approximation would have to be in software.
  - grandempire 1y ago
    Yep, cameras filter the input from sensors. > Any point approximation would have to be in software. Circuits can process signals too.
    - Dylan16807 1y ago
      They usually do, but their software decisions are not gospel. They don't change the nature of the underlying sensor, which grabs areas that are pretty square.
      - grandempire 1y ago
        > which grabs areas And outputs what? Just because the input is an area does not mean the output is an area. What it if it outputs the peak of the distribution across the area? > that are pretty square. If we look at a camera sensor and do not see a uniform grid of packed area elements would that convince you? I notice you haven’t shared any criticism of the point model - widely understood by the field.
        Dylan16807 1y ago
        > And outputs what? Just because the input is an area does not mean the output is an area. > What it if it outputs the peak of the distribution across the area? It outputs a voltage proportional to the (filtered) photon count across the entire area. > If we look at a camera sensor and do not see a uniform grid of packed area elements would that convince you? Non-uniformity won't convince me points are a better fit, but if the median camera doesn't use a grid I'll be interested in what you have to show. > I notice you haven’t shared any criticism of the point model - widely understood by the field. This whole comment line is a criticism of the input being modeled as points, and my criticism of the output is implied by my pixel art comment above (because point-like upscaling causes a giant blur) and also exists in other comments like this one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43777957 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43777957
        1y ago