Converting 3D geometry into 2D pixels for display, fundamental to real-time graphics.
Definition
Rasterization converts 3D vector graphics (triangles, polygons) into a 2D pixel image. It is the foundation of real-time graphics in games and real-time engines.
Practical Application
Game engines, real-time previz, LED volume content. Significantly faster than ray tracing, but physically less accurate. Hybrid approaches combine rasterization with selective ray tracing.
Technical Details
Vertex Shader → Primitive Assembly → Rasterization → Fragment Shader → Framebuffer. Per-pixel operations. Z-buffer for depth. Anti-aliasing for edge smoothing. GPUs optimized for rasterization.
More in the lexikon
Related terms
Camera · Technique
Rolling Shutter
Rolling Shutter is an exposure technique where the sensor is exposed line by line from…
Camera · Technique
Line Skipping / Row Skipping / Pixel Skipping / Subsampling
Camera · Technique
Oversampling / Supersampling / Upsampling
Camera · Technique
Pixel Binning / Pixel Grouping / Sensor Binning
Camera · Technique
Flashing / Pre-Flashing / Post-Flashing / Pre-Exposure
Technique of exposing film stock to a small amount of uniform light before or after…
Camera · Technique
R3D