rasterizable

Rasterizable refers to a process in computer graphics where vector graphics are converted into raster graphics. Vector graphics are composed of mathematical descriptions of geometric shapes, such as lines, curves, and polygons, defined by points and paths. Raster graphics, on the other hand, are made up of a grid of pixels, each with a specific color. The rasterization process takes the vector data and determines which pixels on a screen or in an image file should be illuminated and in what color to represent the original vector shapes.

This conversion is a fundamental step in rendering images for display. When a vector image is to be shown on a pixel-based display, such as a monitor or a printer, it must be rasterized. The graphics processing unit (GPU) in a computer is heavily involved in this process, performing rasterization very efficiently. Algorithms are used to decide which pixels fall within the boundaries of vector shapes and to assign appropriate colors to them, often involving techniques to smooth jagged edges, known as anti-aliasing.

The term "rasterizable" can also be used to describe objects or scenes that are suitable for rasterization. For instance, a 3D model is not directly displayed on a screen; it must first be converted into a series of polygons and then rasterized to create a 2D image. Therefore, a 3D scene is rasterizable once it has been processed into a form that can be rendered as pixels. The output of rasterization is a bitmap image.