How it works
A diagonal edge crosses a square pixel grid and can look stepped. Anti-aliasing smooths that transition by combining or reconstructing information around edges. Spatial methods mainly use the current image; temporal methods also use earlier frames, so their behaviour becomes especially apparent when the camera moves.
Important differences and limits
Smoother edges can come with softer textures, ghosting or extra graphics work. A screenshot cannot reveal every motion artifact. Sharpening may improve clarity but can exaggerate outlines. The highest setting is therefore not necessarily the most balanced choice for your particular game and display.
A useful practical check
Compare a stationary scene and a slow camera movement containing fences, foliage and distant wires. Change one option at a time, watching image quality and frame times. Start with the game’s own controls; forcing a driver option does not reliably improve every rendering engine.
An example in practice
A wire fence is a useful example because thin edges may shimmer as you move. If one mode removes that shimmer but leaves a trail behind the character, neither a static screenshot nor the FPS average alone explains the tradeoff.