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    What this (AA/AF/HDR/Bloom/Shadows) terms mean?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by shrike, Oct 2, 2006.

  1. shrike

    shrike Notebook Consultant

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    While reading about Graphic Cards/Games I often see these terms but can't figure out what they mean/do?

    Thanks.
     
    shrike, Oct 2, 2006
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  2. mastha212

    mastha212 Notebook Evangelist

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    You don't know what SHADOWS mean?! LOL
     
    mastha212, Oct 2, 2006
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  3. shrike

    shrike Notebook Consultant

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    I never said I worked in Geeksquad :)
     
    shrike, Oct 2, 2006
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  4. mastha212

    mastha212 Notebook Evangelist

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    C'mon you don't have to be GEEK to know what SHADOWS mean!!! Really, in games Shadows is the same thing as in reality. You can trust me.
     
    mastha212, Oct 2, 2006
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  5. Phil17

    Phil17 Notebook Consultant

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    AA-Anti Aliasing. Makes edges seem smoother
    AF-Antistropic Filtering. Vertical equivalent to AA
    HDR-High Def. Rendering. really cool and hardware intensive light effects
    bloom-less intensive than hdr but still cool
    shadows-obvious
     
    Phil17, Oct 2, 2006
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  6. shrike

    shrike Notebook Consultant

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    thanks, phil17...

    mastha212... who said I wasn't :p
     
    shrike, Oct 2, 2006
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  7. TwilightVampire

    TwilightVampire Notebook Deity

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    Actually, Anisotropic filtering makes textures more clear.
     
    TwilightVampire, Oct 2, 2006
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  8. Qhs

    Qhs Notebook Evangelist

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    I believe HDR means High Dynamic Range, not High Def. Rendering.
     
    Qhs, Oct 2, 2006
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  9. mastha212

    mastha212 Notebook Evangelist

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    Qhs : true
     
    mastha212, Oct 2, 2006
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  10. ronkotus

    ronkotus Notebook Evangelist

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    Generally AA/AF/HDR/Bloom/Shadows are graphics card or in-game settings to increase image quality in games or in 3d-applications.

    AA (=Antialiasing) is a method for reducing the jaggedness of lines in graphics. This gif-image demonstrates how AA works (note! zoom the image if your browser resizes it).

    AF (=Anisotropic Filtering) is used to reduce blurry texture surfaces on more distant objects. Check this image to see how it looks with no AF, 4xAF or 16xAF.

    HDR and Bloom are very different lighting methods (commonly used in latest games) to illuminate 3D worlds.

    HDR (=High Dynamic Range) is a light rendering method used to represent the range of light intensity levels found in ranging from direct light to the deepest shadows.

    Bloom on the other hand is only a shader effect that "spreads" out a light source, making near objects look brighter.

    Images from one of the latest games Oblivion with Bloom and with HDR.

    Shadows are shadows, you know. :) OMG they are everywhere!
     
    ronkotus, Oct 2, 2006
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