Why do those cheesy pictures that get shared on Facebook always looks so grainy and pixelated?
They tend to pick up artifacts because the original image has gone through a chain of hundreds of computing devices which used different file formats and resolutions and so on. People do stupid shit with their files like opening them in Paint to edit them (adding/removing watermarks, resizing, ad…
The Short Answer
They tend to pick up artifacts because the original image has gone through a chain of hundreds of computing devices which used different file formats and resolutions and so on. People do stupid shit with their files like opening them in Paint to edit them (adding/removing watermarks, resizing, adding/removing text, messing with color depth) and then saving them in a different format. A lot of image formats, like jpeg, are "lossy." To save file size, a jpeg will essentially smooth out some of the fine details of the image, which gives you [artifacting](_URL_0_). If you pass an image around from one lossy file format to the next, it will artifact more and more each time its format changes, so the quality gets worse and worse.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Image, file, format
This explanation focuses on image, file, format and spans 128 words across 4 sentences. At 71% above the average Technology explanation (75 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “They tend to pick up artifacts because the original image has gone through a chain of hundreds of computing devices whic” It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 4 connected points.
How This Compares in Technology
Ranked #74 of 500 Technology questions by answer depth (top 16%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why those cheesy pictures that get shared on facebook always looks so grainy and pixelated?
They tend to pick up artifacts because the original image has gone through a chain of hundreds of computing devices which used different file formats and resolutions and so on. People do stupid shit with their files like opening them in Paint to…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Technology questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 128 words, ranked #74 of 500 Technology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are image, file, format.
What approach does this answer take to explain those cheesy pictures that get shared on facebook always loo?
The explanation uses root cause analysis across 128 words. It is categorized under Technology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.