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2. Understanding Vector Graphics & Bitmaps

The difference between the two image types is that while bitmap images are made up of pixels, vector files are made up of lines described by equations.

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obaebie220
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37 views

2. Understanding Vector Graphics & Bitmaps

The difference between the two image types is that while bitmap images are made up of pixels, vector files are made up of lines described by equations.

Uploaded by

obaebie220
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Computer Graphics is the use of computers to generate and manipulate


visual images. The two main types of computer graphics are Vector
graphics and Bitmaps graphics.

BITMAPS GRAPHICS
Bitmaps Graphics, also known as raster images, are composed of tiny
squares called pixels; each pixel is mapped to a location in an image and
has numerical color values.

Bitmaps are excellent for photographs and digital paintings because they
reproduce color gradations well. Bitmaps are resolution‐dependent - that
is, they represent a fixed number of pixels. While they look good at their
actual size, they can appear jagged or lose image quality when scaled, or
when displayed or printed at a resolution higher than their original
resolution.

In their simplest form, bitmaps have only two colors, with each pixel being
either black or white. With increasing complexity, an ima ge can include
more colors; photograph-quality images may have millions. Examples of
bitmap graphic formats include GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, XBM, BMP, and PCX
as well as bitmap (i.e., screen) fonts. The image displayed on a computer
monitor is also a bitmap, as are the outputs of printers, scanners, and
similar devices. They are created using paint programs like Adobe
Photoshop.

VECTOR GRAPHICS
Vector Graphics are made of lines and curves, and they are generated from
mathematical descriptions that determine the position, length, and
direction in which lines are drawn.

Vector graphics are ideal for logos and illustrations because they are
resolution‐independent and can be scaled to any size, or printed and
displayed at any resolution, without losing detail and quality. In addition,
you can produce sharp and crisp outlines with vector graphics. Using
vectors results in infinitely sharp graphics and often smaller files, but, when
complex, vectors ta ke time to render a nd may have larger file sizes than a
raster equivalent.

Rather than a grid of pixels, a vector graphic consists of shapes, curves,


lines, and text which together make a picture. While a bitmap image
contains information about the color of each pixel, a vector graphic
contains instructions about where to place each of the components. It is
even possible to embed a bitmap graphic within a vector graphic, which is
how vector-bitmap hybrid graphics work. It is not possible, however, to
embed vector information within a bitmap. Examples of vector graphic
formats are PICT, EPS, and WMF as well as PostScript and TrueType fonts.
These are created with GIS and CAD applications as well as drawing
programs like FreeHand.

As described, Bitmap and Vector graphics both have their strengths and
weaknesses:

• In general, a bitmap graphic is much larger than a similar vector graphic.

• Bitmap graphics are affected by resolution. If you enlarge a bitmap


graphic, it will look jagged. When shrunk, its features become indistinct
and fuzzy. This does not happen with vector graphics as their shapes are
redrawn to compensate for changes in resolution.

• Altering vector graphics is easy because the shapes within them can be
ungrouped and edited individually. However, vector graphics are difficult
to modify or even display when they are not opened in programs that
understand their rendering languages. For example, while many Mac OS
drawing programs easily display and edit PICT files, few are able to do
anything at all with WMF files. Most paint applications, however, are
capable of opening many different kinds of bitmap graphic formats.

• You can easily convert one kind of bitmap file into another. You can also
convert a vector graphic into a bitmap. However, it is very difficult to
convert a bitmap graphic into a true vector graphic. It is even difficult to
convert one kind of vector graphic into another (e.g., PICT to WMF).

• Vector graphics are not appropriate for complex images (e.g., digitized
photographs).
The top illustration is a vector graphic consisting of lines and fills. The bottom version is a bitmap made up of pixels.

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