pixelating
Breaking into squares
Pixelating describes an image breaking into visible square blocks, either as a technical flaw when resolution is too low or as a deliberate effect to obscure content.
News broadcasts pixelate faces to protect identities; The photo pixelated when I zoomed in too far.
The verb comes from pixel, the smallest unit of a digital image.
Making less distinct
- censoringRemoving objectionable content
- redactingObscuring text for secrecy
- anonymizingRemoving identifying information
- maskingConcealing by covering
concealing · blocking · hiding · scrambling · distorting · obfuscating · privacy · faces
Pixel-based image format
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- screenDisplay or barrier
- displayPresentation for viewing
- graphicsVisual design elements
image · compression · artifact · rendering · RGB · texture · rasterization · dithering
Vintage computing standard
- retroEvoking recent past
- vintageQuality from past eras
- gamingInteractive electronic entertainment
- arcadeArched passageway or gaming hall
chiptune · sprite · Nintendo · Minecraft · voxel · indie · nostalgic · blocky
Causing moral decay
- fragmentingBreaking into smaller pieces
- breaking upEnding a romantic relationship
- deterioratingBecoming progressively worse
- glitchingShowing intermittent digital faults
artifacting · lossy · compression · distortion · noise · banding · posterizing · aliasing
blurring
Making less distinct
- censoringRemoving objectionable content
- redactingObscuring text for secrecy
- anonymizingRemoving identifying information
masking · concealing · blocking · hiding · scrambling · distorting · obfuscating · privacy · faces · license plates
bitmap
Pixel-based image format
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- screenDisplay or barrier
- displayPresentation for viewing
graphics · image · compression · artifact · rendering · RGB · texture · rasterization · dithering · antialiasing
8-bit
Vintage computing standard
arcade · chiptune · sprite · Nintendo · Minecraft · voxel · indie · nostalgic · blocky · chunky
corrupting
Causing moral decay
- fragmentingBreaking into smaller pieces
- breaking upEnding a romantic relationship
- deterioratingBecoming progressively worse
glitching · artifacting · lossy · compression · distortion · noise · banding · posterizing · aliasing · blockiness
pixelatingsharpening
Making more cutting
clarifying · deblurring · enhancing · upscaling · refining
pixelatingrevealing
Making known what's hidden
uncensoring · exposing · unmasking · uncovering · disclosing