Glossary

API

An abbreviation of “application-programming interface.”

accumulation buffer

Memory (bitplanes) that is used to accumulate a series of images generated in the color buffer. Using the accumulation buffer may significantly improve the quality of the image, but also take correspondingly longer to render. The accumulation buffer is used for effects such as depth of field, motion blur, and full-scene antialiasing.

aliasing

A rendering technique that assigns to pixels the color of the primitive being rendered, regardless of whether that primitive covers all or only a portion of the pixel’s area. This results in jagged edges, or jaggies.

alpha

A fourth color component. The alpha component is never displayed directly and is typically ...

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