grainy

This term describes a tactile or visual sensation of fragmentation. It suggests a lack of smoothness or clarity, evoking the feeling of individual particles that are distinct enough to be noticed by the touch or the eye. It is often used in a neutral or slightly negative sense to describe a lack of refinement. In the digital age, the word has shifted heavily toward image quality. While it once primarily described minerals or wood, it now frequently refers to low-resolution sensors or high-ISO film settings where the image looks speckled rather than crisp.