I understand pixelation (when using a raster type program) to be an area where you have 2 very contrasting colors, side by side, or one on top of the other, you can see at the border of where the colors change, either a light or dark (depending on the colors used) band -- a very, very thin band usually. But if you scale the image larger, the very thin band is exaggerated. Oh let's see, I think I have an example....

Ok, this is something I did with GIMP, my very 1st attempt to do any kind of graphics. Yes I know, very crude, but I'm only showing it because it demonstrates what I'm calling pixelation. In the small one, the colors meet, without much distortion. But when I scale it up, notice how there are some unintended anomalies between some of the colors. For example, between blue and green, see the thin dark band? That's where the pixels are trying to make the transition from blue to green, but end up with that darker strip. And if you look closely, you can see similar, but less obvious pixelation between the lavendar and violet colors.


This is one of the reasons I prefer Inkscape and vectors. I can scale paths to my hearts content, and not have to worry about pixelation (worry as much -- it does happen with Inkscape, but in my experience, not nearly as much, or as bad).