Method of and apparatus for processing graphics

The invention relates to a graphics processing pipeline and its method of operation, the pipeline including a plurality of processing stages including a rasteriser and a renderer. The rasteriser rasterises input primitives to generate graphics fragments to be processed with each graphics fragment having one or more sampling points associated with it. The renderer processes fragments generated by the rasteriser to generate output fragment data for output to a render output. The method comprises the steps of (i) determining first information to be used to test whether at least a part of a primitive should be processed further, 31, (ii) using at least some of the first information to decide whether to process at least a part of the primitive further, 32, and, if it is decided that at least a part of the primitive is to be processed further, (iii) determining further information to be used in further processing of the primitive, 33. In the final step of the method (v) the primitive is further processed using the determined further information, 35. Also disclosed is a graphics processing pipeline in which the renderer uses primitive rendering set-up information when generating output fragment data.