Term of the Moment
anatomy of a program
Definition: feathering
The appearance of jagged edges on moving objects in an interlaced display. Also known as "combing," this artifact is created because the image moves from one video field (odd lines displayed) to the next video field (even lines filled in while odd lines still present). Feathering is more noticeable on a large-screen TV than a small one because the lines are thicker. See interlace.
Feathering
Notice the jagged effect of the tomato as it moves from one interlaced video field to another. Field 1 would be odd lines; field 2 even; field 3 odd; field 4 even, and so on. (Image courtesy of Home Theater and High Fidelity.)