pikselöityneessä

Pikselöityneessä is a Finnish term that translates to "pixelated" in English. It refers to a visual artifact where an image appears blocky or grainy due to a low resolution or excessive digital manipulation. This phenomenon occurs when the individual pixels that make up a digital image become clearly visible, detracting from the overall clarity and detail of the picture.

The causes of pixelation can vary. It is often a result of resizing an image to a much larger size than its original dimensions. When a digital image is scaled up, the software interpolates new pixels to fill the expanded space. If the original image lacks sufficient data (i.e., has a low resolution), these interpolated pixels will be obvious, leading to a blocky appearance. Another common cause is compression, particularly with lossy compression formats like JPEG. When an image is compressed too aggressively, some visual information is discarded to reduce file size, which can manifest as pixelation, especially in areas of smooth gradients or fine detail.

Pixelation can also be a deliberate artistic choice, used to create a retro or stylized aesthetic. Some video games and digital art employ pixelation as a stylistic element. However, in most contexts, it is considered an undesirable artifact that indicates a loss of image quality. Identifying pixelation is usually straightforward, as the characteristic blocky pattern is easily recognizable.