Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining visibility of determining a pixel during video rendering is accomplished by determining z-positioning information of an object element. The z-positioning information is representative of the z-information of an object element in a particular section of the display. For example, the z-positioning information may be the two most significant bits of the z-parameter, or information, of an object element. Having determined the z positioning information, a comparison is made between the z positioning information of the object element and z positioning information stored in temporary memory. If this is the first object element being rendered, the z positioning information stored in the temporary memory will be initial z positioning information. When the comparison is favorable, i.e.