A Square Image
Ever look closely at the printout from a computer or the images on the screens in a video arcade? Can you see the pattern of squares? (If you have a computer, try printing out the same word in small letters and again in very large letters. See those squares again?) Computer animators want as much detail as possible to make their images realistic, but they're limited by those same patterns of squares. How has technology overcome these limits? Let's find out.
- You will need: a simple black-and-white picture that's very clear and easy to recognize (a blurry image with lots of grays and detail usually won't work well); two pieces of graph paper, one with 16 squares per inch and one with 100 squares per inch; a pencil; tape; two paper clips; and a window or other light source.
- Clip the 16-square graph paper to the front of the picture. Tape the two pieces of paper to the window so that the light shines through.
- Look at each square of the graph paper and decide:
a) Is more than 50 percent of the square of the picture shaded? If so, color the graph square black.
b) Is less than 50 percent of the square of the picture shaded? If so, leave the graph square white.
c) Is the square of the picture shaded, but only lightly? If so, leave the graph square white.
Continue until all your squares are colored (or not), using this system.
- Study your image up close and at a distance. What features in the original picture can you also identify from the graph paper?
- Try the same activity but this time use the 100-square graph paper. Compare the two images. What would you need to do to make your image even more realistic? What developments in computer technology would be important to this process?
Curious for an answer? Look Behind the Scenes.
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