Interpolation is a digital imaging process used to enlarge a picture by adding new pixels to the existing image grid. Camera and scanner software often perform interpolation during image processing to create higher-resolution results. The software estimates the values of new pixels based on the surrounding pixels, effectively "guessing" the additional image information.
While interpolation increases the pixel count and image size, it can sometimes reduce overall image quality and sharpness. Photographers and digital artists should understand interpolation to make informed decisions when enlarging images, balancing the desire for larger prints with potential loss of detail and definition in the final output.