Rasterization

Rasterization converts geometric shapes or other continuous descriptions into a discrete grid of pixels or samples. It determines which samples represent each shape and what values they receive.

Scan conversion: The process of converting geometric primitives into discrete pixel locations. It names the central step that maps rasterized shapes onto pixel coordinates.
Vector graphics: A way of representing images with geometric primitives rather than fixed pixel arrays. Rasterization commonly converts these resolution-independent descriptions into pixels.
Raster graphics: Images represented as rectangular arrays of pixel values. Rasterization produces this image format from geometric descriptions.
Ray tracing: A rendering technique that traces simulated light rays to calculate image formation. It computes visibility and lighting through ray-scene intersections rather than triangle coverage.
Sampling (signal processing): The conversion of a continuous signal into discrete measurements taken at intervals. Rasterization samples spatial geometry and shading on a discrete grid.
Pixel: A discrete picture element representing a sampled location or area in a digital image. Pixels are the grid units that rasterized output assigns values.
3D computer graphics: The creation and manipulation of visual images representing three-dimensional scenes. Real-time 3D systems use rasterization to convert projected surfaces into screen images.
Path tracing: A rendering method that estimates global illumination by tracing many light paths through a scene. It handles complex light transport that conventional rasterization does not directly simulate.
Antialiasing: Techniques that reduce visible artifacts caused by representing continuous features on a discrete grid. Coverage estimates and extra samples soften jagged rasterized edges.
Triangle mesh: A surface representation made from connected vertices, edges, and triangular faces. Graphics hardware commonly rasterizes mesh triangles as its basic surface primitives.

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