gridfitting

Gridfitting, or grid-fitting, is the process of mapping geometric data, shapes, or samples onto a regular grid—typically a pixel grid—to minimize distortions when rasterized, displayed, or sampled. It is used in a range of fields, including typography, computer graphics, and numerical data processing, to improve how continuous forms are represented on discrete grids.

In typography and font rendering, grid-fitting refers to adjusting glyph outlines so their essential features align with the pixel grid at a given size or display density. This is closely related to hinting and anti-aliasing: small adjustments to control points are made to preserve legibility and recognizable shapes when the outline is rasterized on low-resolution screens. The goal is to balance geometric fidelity with sharp, stable rendering across sizes.

In graphics and rasterization, grid-fitting helps convert vector or scalable representations into grid-aligned segments suitable for display or bitmap manipulation. Grids can be isotropic or anisotropic, and fitting decisions affect edge smoothness, jaggedness, and the perceived accuracy of curves and lines during rendering or sampling.

In data analysis and geospatial applications, grid-fitting often means constructing a regular grid from scattered measurements or interpolating data onto a grid. This use supports tasks such as creating digital elevation models, heat maps, or other gridded representations from irregularly spaced data, typically employing interpolation or smoothing techniques.

Implementation considerations include snapping tolerance, feature preservation, computational efficiency, and the trade-off between fidelity to the original geometry and readability or usability of the resulting grid-based representation.