Antialiasing, Anisotropic filtering

[Hot Sauce]

What is Antialiasing and Anisotropic filtering? I've got settings on my 6600 GT for them to go--

Application Controlled
Off
2x
2xQ
4x
8xS

This is under the Performance and Quality settings. I've tried playing some games w/ Antialiasing at 2x and it blurs everything. But can someone tell me what they do?

 

[Sc4freak]

Anti-Aliasing eliminates aliasing. Obvious answer, I know. Aliasing is the "stair stepping" or "jaggedness" you see at the edge of objects which aren't purely horizontal or vertical. Antialiasing doesn't blur, it smoothens the edges. Basically, it improves IQ substantially, especially at lower resolutions.

Anisotropic filtering sharpens textures at a distance, and is most noticible at oblique angles such as floors and walls.

 

[Yoshiyuki Blade]

A good way to see AA in action is to change Window's fonts to "ClearType". Go to the "Display Properties", hit to the "Appearance" tab, click on the "Effects" button, make sure the box in "Use the following method to smooth the edges of screen fonts:" is checked, and hit the drag-down box and select ClearType.

Looks nice...