A meta-cluster is a group of connected related pixels, which may not all have the exact same colour (in contrast to a cluster, which is a group of connected pixels of the same colour). For example, a red spot and its aliasing and subtle shadows would form a single meta-cluster, while intensely contrasting shadows and other objects that have different colours would form different clusters/meta-clusters.

Making sure it's clear which meta-clusters each pixel belongs to helps to avoid accidental mistakes like features blending together. Conversely, making the boundaries between clusters unclear can help achieve a soft look, by merging them into one meta-cluster that might represent multiple objects. This can be helpful in keeping backgrounds from being overwhelming, for example.


Edited by eishiya - 23 May 2015 at 12:14pm