COVERAGE COMPACTION

A method for compressing graphics data, the method comprising sorting a plurality of coverage masks into an order of descending number of samples covered by the plurality of coverage masks. A first coverage mask is identified. The first coverage mask comprises a greatest number of covered samples. Additional coverage masks of the plurality of coverage masks are compacted in the order of descending number of samples covered. Compacting additional coverage masks comprises removing samples from the coverage mask that are covered by any other compacted coverage mask.