Pixel is a short version of two words: "picture" and
"element", a single point in a graphic image. In case
you're wondering, the correct pronunciation has the
emphasis on the second syllable: pix-EL, but no one
ever says it that way.

A pixel is a little colored dot. Graphics monitors
display pictures by dividing the display screen into
thousands (or millions) of pixels, arranged in rows
and columns. The pixels are so close together that
they appear connected.

The number of bits used to represent each pixel
determines how many colors or shades of gray can be
displayed. For example, in 8-bit color mode, the color
monitor uses 8 bits for each pixel, making it possible
to display 2 to the 8th power (256) different colors or
shades of gray.

On color monitors, each pixel is actually composed
of three dots -- a red, a blue, and a green one. Ideally,
the three dots should all converge at the same point, but
all monitors have some convergence error that can make
color pixels appear fuzzy.

The quality of a display system largely depends on its
resolution, how many pixels it can display, and how many
bits are used to represent each pixel. VGA systems display
640 by 480, or about 300,000 pixels. In contrast, SVGA
systems display 800 by 600, or 480,000 pixels. True Color
systems use 24 bits per pixel, allowing them to display
more than 16 million different colors.

You see, computer images are not like photographs,
where the color is consistant and smooth. Computer
images are a lot more like the images you'd find in
a newspaper. It's a lot of little dots up close, but
when you move away and your eyes get the opportunity
to blur the little dots all together, it makes a
pretty nice picture. Your television works the same
way. Tonight, go right up to your TV, lick your thumb,
and drag the spit across a small section of the TV
screen. The liquid will offer enough of a "lens" that
you can see the individual dots.

When I say the image is 468 by 60, that means there are
468 little colored dots across, and 60 little colored
dots up the side. Do you see it?

Let's get pixeling