A symbol smoothing system for synthetically increasing the effective resolution of an in-raster symbol generator memory by a factor of four. The system stores a special three bit code in selected memory elements representative of the existing and past two memory lines with the code actually being a video brightness distribution and positioning offset code. A code number in a single memory cell defines positional and intensity information for the display elements corresponding to that memory cell and to selected surrounding eight memory cells, all of the memory cells having time or positional correspondence to display element positions. The stored codes in the surrounding memory cells, as well as the instantaneous memory cell being decoded, provide intensity levels which are combined at selected display element positions. The video data input for each memory cell consists of the fractional X and Y position bit and symbol type bit and from each memory element, eight additional display elements are developed having selected brightness levels. By decoding this code bit information, the in-raster symbology provides a smooth transition from one display line to the next so as to eliminate the staircase effect in rotated or non-orthogonal lines. For each memory cell in a first field, such as the odd field, every other display resolution element is generated principally from the code in the memory cell and the alternate resolution element is generated principally from the same code. For the other field, such as the even field, the two elements on the display are generated principally from same information code in the memory cell. Further, each resolution element defined by a memory cell can have its intensity increased by codes stored in surrounding memory cells. The three bit memory codes define the location of the imaginary display elements and the video distribution patterns, which patterns simulate a gaussian brightness distribution to temper the edge sharpness of the digitally derived symbology. Thus by storing a single code for each selected memory cell, the system by proper decoding of the codes stored in that memory cell and the surrounding memory cells, develops both positional and intensity display information for the display elements while increasing the effective resolution of the in-raster symbol generator refresh memory by a factor of four. Another feature in accordance with the invention is the use of a common decoding structure by altering the stored codes with a bit rotator so as to be compatible with the common decoding structure, with the altered code representing the correct condition to be decoded.