Alpha to coverage

<p>Alpha to coverage is a <a href="/facts/Multisample_anti-aliasing/tPhQwSlK">multisampling</a> <a href="/facts/Computer_graphics/lapBE8wv">computer graphics</a> technique, that replaces <a href="/facts/Alpha_compositing/7uUBtjrt">alpha blending</a> with a <a href="/facts/Image_mask/d9Cu1A1Y">coverage mask</a>. This achieves <a href="/facts/Order-independent_transparency/StM5wSpq">order-independent transparency</a> for when <a href="/facts/Aliasing/Pzg84HL0">anti-aliasing</a> or semi-transparent <a href="/facts/Texture_mapping/9gDTsuXN">textures</a> are used. This particular technique is useful for situations where dense foliage or grass must be rendered in a <a href="/facts/Video_game/vmTdNASJ">video game</a>.
</p><p>Alpha to coverage multisampling is based on regular <a href="/facts/Multisampling/tPhQwSlK">multisampling</a>, except that the <a href="/facts/Alpha_compositing/7uUBtjrt">alpha</a> coverage mask is <a href="/facts/Bitwise_AND/0gkqnUda">ANDed</a> with the multisample mask. Alpha-to-coverage converts the <a href="/facts/Alpha_compositing/7uUBtjrt">alpha</a> component output from the <a href="/facts/Pixel_shader/qfhkKFwA">pixel shader</a> to a coverage mask. When the <a href="/facts/Multisample_anti-aliasing/tPhQwSlK">multisampling</a> is applied each output fragment gets a transparency of 0 or 1 depending on alpha coverage and the <a href="/facts/Multisample_anti-aliasing/tPhQwSlK">multisampling</a> result.
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Alpha to coverage open-in-new

Alpha to coverage