User Guide > Rendering and Render Setup > Shading > About shading and texturing
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Texture filtering
Texture filtering is an anti-aliasing technique used to refine file textures, reduce flickering, or to achieve special effects. The File texture’s Filter attributes (see File) scale the size of the filter and let you specify the amount of blur in the texture map.
If a texture map image is too sharp, it may reveal aliasing (staircase) effects in the final rendered image. By default, Filter is set to a value of 1.0 to help prevent such aliasing effects.
The effect of Filter is related directly to eye space. As the object moves further away from the eye, the more the texture blurs.
(For Maya software renderer only)
Multipixel filters process the entire rendered image to help eliminate artifacts, such as aliasing or jagged edges in rendered images, or roping or flicking in rendered animations. You can choose from a few different types of multipixel filters or you can create and use your own plug-in.
To create and use your own plug-in, see Create and load a plug-in multipixel filter.
(for mental ray renderer only)
Use elliptical filtering for high quality texture filtering and anti-aliasing. It is similar to mip map filtering, but produces much superior results.
For more information, see High quality texture filtering with elliptical filtering and Filter features and compatibility with the mental ray for Maya renderer and Maya software renderer.