Post-processing
To simplify things to a horrible extent, post-processing effects are like Instagram filters for your game. As the term implies, post-processing is done to a frame after its rendered, to either enhance image quality (for example through post-processing AA techniques), or to add additional…filters, like vignetting, depth of field blur, and color correction. Post-process effects have a bit of a bad rep, because of the current “cinematic” trend to simulate how a movie camera would capture the game world, leading to an image that’s often too fuzzy and soft to appreciate. On the other hand, advances in post-process anti-aliasing are most certainly something that everyone can appreciate—with other visual aspects becoming progressively more demanding, there’s less overhead for AA, whether you’re on console or PC. Inexpensive post-process techniques like SMAA clean up image quality while still giving you sufficient performance wiggle room.
