Nvidia DLAA increases image quality with AI-based anti-aliasing

In conjunction with the Geforce RTX 2000 series, Nvidia launched the Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology, which uses machine learning for anti-aliasing and scaling. The idea is to render an image in lower resolution via traditional rasterization and then scale it up, this to increase performance and ultimately give a higher frame rate (FPS) with minimal quality impact.

With The Elder Scrolls Online, a half-variant of the technology called Deep Learning Anti-Aliasing (DLAA) is introduced, with which upscaling is deleted from the equation. The motivation for this is that it is such an old game that many computers can already render it with a high frame rate in higher resolution, which is why the developers behind it instead want to focus on improved edge smoothing.

Now Techpowerup is putting DLAA to the test in The Elder Scrolls Online and the result impresses the editors. The technology side states that DLSS is made to increase performance with minimal impact on image quality, while DLAA in practice does the opposite – increases image quality with minimal impact on performance.

When DLAA is compared to DLSS and the currently widespread edge smoothing technology Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA), noticeably better image quality is noticeable, especially at lower resolutions. The reason for this is stated to be that DLSS is better than TAA at reconstructing smaller objects such as ropes and wooden leaves, something DLAA benefits from as the technology, unlike DLSS, does not need to reconstruct a scaled-up image.

In conclusion, Techpowerup writes that the use of DLAA, which provides better image quality, cuts performance by 8 percent compared to TAA. It is also noted that the advent of the DLAA fulfills a previous desire among enthusiasts; to use the anti-aliasing component of DLSS without using its scaled-up resolution function.

The news that Elder Scrolls Online would be equipped with Nvidia’s DLAA technology arrived in principle at the same time as the game was updated with the support. Which future titles will have the support built-in, if it can be combined with dynamic resolution and other issues remains.

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