Somewhere between selecting heels or boots for the day, it hit me: the difference between granularity and level of detail is a lot like choosing accessories for an outfit. Both deal with details, but they approach them oh-so-differently.
Let’s break it down:
What is Level of Detail (LOD)?
Level of detail is all about zooming in or out. It’s like getting into a lift and moving between floors in a high-rise building. On the first floor, you look out the window and can only see a couple of meters in front of you. Here, you’ll notice all the intricate details of your surroundings: the people walking by, their outfits, the texture of the street signs, and even the coffee someone’s sipping. But if you step into the lift and go up a few floors, the picture changes. From higher up, you can see further—the network of roads, other buildings, and parks in the distance. However, you lose those finer details. The people on the street become dots, cars look like toys, and the street signs blur into the background.
In essence, LOD is about how much depth or scope you reveal in your view, depending on the level at which you’re observing.
And What About Granularity?
Granularity is the size of the pieces you’re working with. It’s the level of division or the “fineness” of the details within your chosen level of observation. In the lift analogy, when you’re on the first floor and focusing on the street level, the granularity is higher because you can distinguish individual people, their clothes, and what they’re carrying. But when you’re on the higher floors, the granularity is lower because the people and objects blend into the bigger picture.
Think of granularity like your makeup routine: high granularity is when you’re using every product in your arsenal—primer, contour, blush, highlight, and perfectly blended eyeshadow. Low granularity? Just a swipe of mascara and some tinted lip balm.
Comparing LOD and Granularity
While they’re closely linked, LOD and granularity are not the same thing. LOD determines the overall perspective or level at which you’re viewing the world. Granularity is about how much detail you can distinguish within that level.
Here’s the twist: these two often play off each other. When you move to a lower LOD (like going up the lift), the granularity decreases because you’re looking at the broader picture and can’t make out small details. Conversely, at a higher LOD (closer to ground level), the granularity increases, and you can focus on the intricate elements of what’s in front of you.
Bringing It Together
The Level of Detail feels like a choice: which floor do you want to see life from today?
On the first floor, the granularity is high. You look out the window, and everything is vivid—street signs stand tall, people stroll by, their outfits telling quiet stories. It’s as if you’re zoomed into life’s finest stitches, seeing it all in intimate, intricate clarity.
But press the button to rise, and the LOD shifts. Higher up, the city reveals itself in its sprawling beauty—roads weaving like lifelines, buildings casting shadows of ambition. Yet the granularity drops. People blur into dots, and cars look like scattered confetti, their individuality lost in the bigger picture.
It made me wonder: in the elevator of perspective, when is it worth riding up for the big picture, and when should you stay grounded to savour the details? Because sometimes, life’s true magic lies in the smallest, sharpest moments.
Song of the Day:
~S Xoxo