See also the image-editing technique posterization

Posterization

Posterization of an image entails conversion of a continuous gradation of tone to several regions of fewer tones, with abrupt changes from one tone to another. This was originally done with photographic processes to create posters...

Posterized is North American slang derived from an action in the game of basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

, in which the offensive player "dunks" (see slam dunk

Slam dunk

A slam dunk is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim. This is considered a normal field goal attempt; if successful it is worth two points. The term "slam dunk" was...

) over a defending player in a play that is spectacular and athletic enough to warrant reproduction in a printed poster. The term is also derisive in that when a defending player is 'posterized' — he or she is considered to have been humbled, shamed, and exposed as an inferior athlete.

An example of a player being 'posterized' occurred during the 2000 Summer Olympics

Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics

-Group B:-Championship bracket:-Classification matches:-Preliminary round:The four best teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinal round.-Group A:-Group B:-Championship bracket:...

. 6-foot-6 Vince Carter

Vince Carter

Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. He is a shooting guard who can also play small forward....

, playing for Team USA, dunked over 7-foot-2 Frédéric Weis

Frédéric Weis

Frédéric Weis is a retired French professional basketball player.-Pro career:Weis has played for Unicaja Málaga and Iurbentia Bilbao of the Spanish ACB League, PAOK Thessaloniki in the Greek League, and Limoges in the French League...

 of France

France national basketball team

The French national basketball team is the national basketball team representing France. It is administrated by the Fédération Française de Basket-Ball . The team has been competitive, but has yet to win a major international tournament...

.

A second example is "The Dunk" in which New York Knicks

New York Knicks

The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

' player John Starks

John Starks (basketball)

John Levell Starks is a former American professional basketball shooting guard. Starks was listed at 6'5" and 190 pounds during his NBA playing career...

 dunked over Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...

 and Horace Grant during Game 2 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals.

Posterized is also used infrequently to describe similar events in other sports and has made its way into business writing