Re: pixel's shape, and Slot Mask CRT displays [Re: Question with regards to componentAlpha]

Around 11 o'clock on Sep 25, Vadim Plessky wrote:

> In fact, pixels in traditional Invar Mask CRTs are *round*, or close to being 
> round. RGB dots are placed in form of triangle.

Because there's no alignment between the pixels in the graphics cards and
the arragement of phosphors on the face of the monitor, there's no way to
accurately model the area illuminated by a single component.  A single
component from a single pixel will always generate a nearly gaussian spot
on the monitor which will hit one or more elements, many of which will be
the right color.

CRTs have many advantages, but a simple illumination model is not one of
them, and attempting to model the actual pattern of light is impractical 
with our current mechanisms.

Keith Packard        XFree86 Core Team        HP Cambridge Research Lab