Pixelation occurs when individual pixels in an image become visible, often due to enlargement or intentional design. It can also occur in videos and be used for censorship or artistic purposes. Pixel art is intentionally creating pixelated images, and reducing image size can solve pixelation issues. Vintage technology may also display pixelated images.
Pixelization is a state in which the individual pixels that make up an image can be identified with the naked eye. Typically, raster images displayed on computers are designed with pixels so small that they are not visible when viewing the image at its normal size. When the image is zoomed in to a certain level, individual pixels become visible. The resulting blocky effect is called pixelation. Sometimes, for artistic, cultural or technological reasons, an image is pixelated in its normal state and not as a product of enlargement.
In most cases, pixelation is the result of viewing an image larger than expected. It was once common to encounter pixelation when using computers or playing video games, but this was due to the limited resolution possible. With more developed technology, it’s rare to see a pixelated image except by mistake or when the image was intentionally created that way.
While most people think of pixelation as an image quality, it is also possible to have pixelated video. When a video is pixelated, it’s usually due to the fact that every single frame is pixelated. In some cases, a major error can cause entire blocks of pixels to become pixelated or even distorted.
Some people use pixelation as a censorship device. This use is called pixelization. Often, if a section of an image is pixelated but the rest of the image is of normal resolution, the image has been intentionally pixelated.
When a person intentionally creates pixelated images even though more refined options are available, this is sometimes called pixel art. These images are created because a person enjoys the look of the images, perhaps out of nostalgia or as a deliberate reaction to more detailed art. Some artists recreate the look of pixels in real-life settings using blocks, sticky notes, or other regular square elements. You can also use other images that have a dominant color as pixels to create a larger image.
One problem that computer users occasionally encounter is displaying an image with the wrong size, causing the image to appear pixelated. In these cases, the problem can be solved by reducing the image size. Raster images always have a maximum size at which they can be displayed before this effect becomes apparent and largely depends on the resolution of the image.
Occasionally, you see a pixelated image because you’re using an old piece of technology. Vintage video game systems often display pixelated images. Alternatively, you may need to zoom an image to the pixel level to change individual pixels. Pixelization can sometimes be a problem, but understanding what causes a pixelated image allows for useful manipulation of the effect.
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