Definition: Anti-aliasing is a technique of blending bitmap-based images and text to reduce the stair-stepping or jagged appearance. In areas of transition, the edge pixels are blended to give a smoother appearance. (Continued below...)

Most software provides anti-alaising as an option when placing text or objects in a bitmap-based image, however, anti-aliasing should be disabled when very small type is used under 8-10 points.

Related Terms • bitmap • pixel

Alternate Spellings: antialias antialiasing anti-aliased

Common Misspellings: anti-alising anti-alaising

Related Resources:

Anti-alias Information
From HTML Guide Jennifer Kyrnin.

Web Graphics - Common Problems
Anti-aliasing can create some problems, particularly when dealing with transparent GIFs. This page offers solutions for overcoming these problems.

Elsewhere on the Web:

Rules for Anti-aliasing
Anti-aliasing is described and some general rules are offered for making your anti-aliased images look their best.

Anti-Aliasing & Transparency
Discussion of anti-aliasing and transparency for Web graphics, and what to do when you combine the two.

 

<Back to Last Page>     <Full Glossary>