Smooth Edges

Learn how to create anti-aliased, smooth edges in your shader graphics.

Learning Objectives

- Understand the importance of anti-aliasing in shaders

- Learn to use smoothstep() function effectively

- Practice creating smooth transitions between colors

Key Concepts

Anti-Aliasing

Smooth edges prevent jagged, pixelated appearance:

- Sharp transitions create aliasing artifacts

- Smooth transitions look more professional

- Essential for high-quality graphics

smoothstep() Function

The smoothstep(edge0, edge1, x) function:

- Returns 0.0 when x <= edge0

- Returns 1.0 when x >= edge1

- Smooth interpolation between edge0 and edge1

- Creates natural-looking transitions

Edge Control

Control smoothness by adjusting edge parameters:

- Smaller difference = sharper edge

- Larger difference = softer edge

Exercise

Create a circle with perfectly smooth, anti-aliased edges.

Hints

1. Calculate distance from center: distance(uv, center)

2. Use smoothstep() instead of step() for the edge

3. Try: smoothstep(radius + 0.01, radius - 0.01, dist)

4. Experiment with different edge widths

5. Compare with sharp edges to see the difference

Expected Result

You should see a circle with perfectly smooth edges, free from pixelation or jagged artifacts.