pixel - NicheInterests/mistfunk GitHub Wiki

PIXEL

1. n. The basic unit of the composition of an image on a television screen, computer monitor, or similar display. etymology: pix + el(ement). The basic element which makes up a picture.

from The Artscene Dictionary

An important consideration for vintage computer art is that the proportions of a pic ture el ement aren't constant across the ages, and from system to system (and notably display to display), some pixels will have been originally intended to be seen as square, others as fat, others as tall and skinny. This doesn't come up so much in reference to fidelity of reproducing textmode art specifically, but you hear a lot about it in discussions of 8-bit home computers and consoles. Pictures displayed with inauthentic pixel ratios will of course look distorted, yielding "funhouse mirror" versions of computing history, and if you don't know the historical variances you may not even be aware of the distortion.