Posterized

Posterized, in the context of digital imaging and image editing, refers to a reduction in the number of distinct colors or shades of gray in an image, creating a visible banding or stepped effect. This is often an intentional artistic effect, making the image appear more like a poster or graphic design.

The process involves reducing the color palette of an image, causing areas that originally contained smooth gradients to display as distinct blocks of color. The degree of posterization is determined by the number of color levels used. Fewer levels result in a more dramatic and pronounced posterization effect.

Posterization can be achieved through various image editing software using tools often named "Posterize," "Threshold," or similar. These tools allow the user to specify the number of color levels to retain in the final image.

While often used creatively, unintentional posterization can occur in poorly compressed images or images with limited color depth. This undesirable effect is usually a sign of inadequate image processing or storage limitations.