http://www.3dcenter.de/artikel/anti-aliasing/ use goodle to transalte to english ok

copy that whole url and read away

So that Raytracing quality in real time can be achieved, the hardware is far today not yet. But computergrafik experienced several remarkably large development jumps: From symbolic representation in the text mode it came to the pixel diagram, later even into color. Techniques were developed such as Parallax scrolling, which already gave a spatial depth impression. On the PC the Origin title Ultima Underworld was a revolution: The first play with a genuine three-dimensional environment diagram.

Later diagram chips came on the market, which could provide with certain techniques for faster 3D-Grafik, like the legendary S3 Virge . The first useful 3D-Beschleunigung, which became fair this names, brought the 3Dfx Voodoo Graphics . But that was how aufwaendig! The map contained equivalent two large chips, but no 2D-Teil. It had to be inserted additionally to a normal diagram map. Simplified said the achievement consisted of the fact that textures in real time could be filtered (because the raster process was taken over now by a dedicated hardware). The next jump announced itself with the successor Voodoo2 already.

Since this time, thus for some years, is the following term in actually each feature list of any 3D-Grafikkarte:

Anti- Aliasing

Thus however only one software implementation was meant until 1999, which could provide for example with Tomb Raider on a Voodoo2 for very smooth edges. Great importance attained this word for us 3D-Spieler only lately. Because in the meantime all modern maps can realize anti- Aliasing in hardware. Although thereby a compromise from dissolution and speed can be mostly obtained, the overall quality improved, is used still relatively rarely it.

Unfortunately also a term confusion in relevant Reviews and articles prevails. The small sides usually hold back themselves or bring only selectively something to the topic. On large sides one finds more frequent hasty conclusions.

Because the subject is nevertheless somewhat more complex, than first meant. Here now one describes in detail, there are which procedures and which pro and cons it to have. Besides some popular misunderstandings are eliminated. First becomes on the fundamental problem eingangen, afterwards the technical realization is described. Important summaries are coloured set off.