Difference between Raster Scan and

Random Scan
January 17, 2019 Leave a Comment

Raster scan and random scan are the mechanisms used in displays for
rendering the picture of an object on the screen of the monitor. The main
difference between raster scan and random scan lies in the drawing of a picture
where the raster scan points the electron beam at the entire screen but
incorporating just one line at a time in the downward direction. On the other
hand, in the random scan, the electron beam is guided on just those regions of
the screen where the picture actually lies.

Content: Raster Scan Vs Random Scan

1.
1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart
 BASIS FOR
RASTER SCAN RANDOM SCAN
COMPARISON

Electron beam Swept across the screen and Directed to the portions of

handles one row at a time the screen where a picture

and in downward direction. is to be rendered.

Resolution Poor, since it generates Good, as this produces

meander lines which are even lines drawing.

organized as distinct point

sets.

Picture definition Stored as the combination of Stored as a group of line

intensity values for all drawing instructions in a

screen points. display file.

Realistic display Effectively displays realistic Unable to display realistic

scenes. shaded scenes.

Picture rendering Using pixels With the help of

mathematical functions

Definition of Raster Scan

The Raster Scan is a scanning technique in graphics monitor where the
electron beam is moved along the screen covering one line at a time from top to
bottom. The beam intensity is set at high and low levels as the beam sweeps
around the screen to generate a pattern of illuminated spots.

Refresh buffer or frame buffer is then used to save the picture definition,
more specifically the memory area contains the combination of intensity values
for various screen points. These stored intensities are fetched from refresh
buffer and represented on the screen one scan line at a time. The fundamental
unit for defining a single screen point is known as Pixel or Pel (Picture
element).

The raster scan systems are appropriate for the realistic display of scenes as
these systems are capable of saving the intensity data for each screen point
where subtle shading and colour patterns can also be involved. However, the
television sets and printers are examples of other systems.

The capability of the raster scan specifies the intensity range of the pixel
position. It requires only one bit per pixel to handle the intensity of the screen
positions in a black-and-white system. On the other hand, to display the
intensities of different colour variants, supplementary bits are required. The
high-quality systems include up to 24 bits per pixel in which case a high amount
of memory is needed to store frame buffer depending on the resolution such as
in megabytes.
 A
typical system having a screen resolution of 1024 by 1024 and contain 24 bits
per pixel can consume 3 megabytes for the frame buffer. In black-and-white
systems, the frame buffer is known as a bitmap where only one bit per pixel is
consumed while the frame buffer of systems with multiple bits per pixel is called
as a pixmap.

The rate of refreshing on raster-scan displays is operated at the rate of 60-80

frames per second.

Definition of Random Scan

The Random scan works in a completely different manner to the raster scan
where the electron beam is pointed to merely those areas of the screen where
the picture is to be drawn. However, it only involves one line at a time when
drawing a picture that is why it is also known as the vector or calligraphic
display. The component lines of an object by a random scan is drawn in the
way as shown in the diagram below.

The refresh rate of a random scan relies on the number of lines that are to be
showed on the screen. Similar to the raster scan the random scan also stores
the picture definition as a set of line drawing commands using some sort of
medium known as refresh display file. The other names for refresh file display
are display list, display program or refresh buffer. A system displays a certain
picture by revoluting the group of commands in the display file and drawing
each component line after each turn. After processing all line drawing
commands, the system cycle is sent to the first line command.

A random scan is capable of drawing all the component of a picture about 30 to

60 times per second. In the provided refresh rate the high-quality vector
systems are competent enough to handle 100000 short lines. At the time
displaying short lines, the refresh cycles are delayed to eliminate refresh rates
higher than 60 frames per second. Otherwise, swift refreshing of the group of
lines can damage or burn the phosphor.

Key Differences Between Raster Scan and Random Scan

 1. The raster scan monitors make use of the whole screen for displaying the
object while in random screen monitors the certain part of the screen is
used where the electron beam is projected.
2. Resolution of random scan displays is better than raster scan.
3. Raster scan saves the picture definition as the group of intensity measures
for various screen points and consumes more size. As against, in the
random scan, the picture definition is stored in the form of a collection of
line drawing instructions within a display file.
4. Random scan systems are mainly devised for line-drawing applications and
are unable to display the naturalistic shaded scenes. On the contrary, a
raster scan system is suitable for rendering realistic shaded scenes.
However, random scan creates a sleek line drawing.
5. Raster scan uses screen points/pixels to draw an image whereas a random
scan employs mathematical functions for painting the image.
Conclusion
When it comes to refreshing rate, the raster scan has higher refresh rate about
60 to 80 times per second while random scan consumes less time for refreshing
the screen, i.e., 30 to 60 times per second. Raster scan can also use interlaced
refresh method which is not used in the random scan.

Advantages of Computer Aided Design

Published by - admin On April 7, 2014

Computer aided design primarily refers to the use of software for the sake of creating, editing and
defining the different designs which can then be put to various uses. If you are unaware of what CAD
is and the benefits it has to offer, here are the right details that can assist you.
The Key Benefits of CAD
Following are some of the key advantages of using the CAD software.
 Decrease in error percentage: As the CAD software makes use of some of the best tools, the
percentage of error that occurred because of manual designing is significantly reduced.
 Decrease in effort: When it comes to the amount of effort that was needed for the sake of
designing the different models, it has been reduced significantly because the software automates
most of the task.
 Saves time: When you are using the computer aided design software, it will save your time and
you can make better and more efficient designs in shorter time duration.
 Easy to edit: When you are making designs, you may find the need to make alterations. When
you are using computer aided design software, it will be much easier to make any changes
because you can fix the errors and modify the drawings easily.
 Code re-use: As the entire task is carried out with the help of computer tools, it removes the
problem of duplication of labor, you can copy the different parts of code and design which can
then be reused multiple times over and over again.
 Improved accuracy: There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that the kind of accuracy that
CAD software will offer can never be achieved by opting for manual drawings. You have tools to
measure the precision, skill and accuracy level of the designs.
 Easy to share: The CAD tools make it easier to save the files and store it in a way that you can
use it time and again and send it without any unwanted hassles too.