What is the best image downscaling algorithm (quality-wise)?

Question

I want to find out which algorithm is the best that can be used for downsizing a raster picture. With best I mean the one that gives the nicest-looking results. I know of bi

Answer 1

Is there a name for this algorithm?

It might be referred as "box" or "window" resampling in literature. It is actually less computational expensive as you think.

It can also be used to create a intermediate bitmap that is subsequently used by bi-cubic interpolation to avoid aliasing when downsampled by more than 1/2.