What is a Pixel Shader?
A pixel shader is a computer graphics tool that allows for the creation of image effects such as light, texture, shape and color. Pixel shaders make images more realistic by taking away the computerized look to them. With the help of a pixel shader program, images appear multidimensional and detailed, allowing the viewer to feel like they are looking beneath the surface of the image. A pixel shader can bring an edge to a piece of paper, shine to a doorknob or pores to human skin. Essentially, a pixel shader works by transforming an image, pixel by pixel, into another distinct image. A pixel is an individual element of a picture that contains the image’s color and brightness information. Pixel shading is a highly specialized process, as each pixel must be altered individually. Often, over one million pixels must be addressed per frame. The detail is what makes the image look so realistic. Programs that accomplish this task compute the images pixel by pixel in a highly complex process. A
Your video card doesn’t support pixel shader 1.1. Just guessing, but are you trying to play Deus Ex 2? For some reason, Deus Ex 2 doesn’t have an option to disable pixel shading like most games. You might be able to disable pixel shading with an app like 3D-Analyze. If that doesn’t work, you’ll just have to buy a vidcard that supports pixel shader 1.1.
