Rasteroidut

Rasteroidut is a Finnish term that translates to "rasteroids" in English. It refers to a phenomenon primarily observed in digital art and image processing, where a raster image exhibits undesirable blocky or pixelated artifacts. These artifacts are often a consequence of scaling an image up to a size significantly larger than its original resolution. When a raster image is enlarged, the individual pixels that make up the image are also enlarged, becoming more apparent and leading to a jagged or stair-step appearance along edges and curves.

The term can also be applied more broadly to any image composed of a grid of pixels that displays noticeable coarseness or a lack of detail when viewed at a certain magnification. This can occur not only due to enlargement but also from low-resolution source material or aggressive compression techniques that discard image data. In graphic design and digital media, avoiding rasteroidut is crucial for maintaining visual quality. Techniques like using vector graphics, which are resolution-independent and can be scaled infinitely without loss of quality, are often employed to circumvent this issue for certain applications. When raster images are necessary, using high-resolution originals and appropriate scaling methods can help minimize the appearance of rasteroidut.