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Bitmap Graphics

Bitmap images uses a build up of smaller rectangles and squares in single colours to
form an image from far away as your brain interprets that image through your eyes
as one smooth picture. Each one of these squares/rectangles is called a pixel, which
originates from the word picture element

Resolution
To produce a great image a high number of pixels is needed because the higher the
number of pixels the better quality image is produced, this is called its resolution. For
example mobile phones may only use 2 megapixel cameras so the quality is not the
greatest and if you increase the size of the images you will be able to see the
individual pixels which are called pixellation. A good digital camera will use 10+
megapixel which means the picture is of high quality as over 10 million pixels are
used per image, therefore the higher resolution the better quality picture you get

Addressable
Every pixel of an image is addressable; this means that although each pixel can only
be one colour, the pixel can be changed quickly to another colour under computer
control. This can be seen in videos as the image rapidly changes on a computer
screen from one bitmap image to another at speeds of 25 times a second, giving a
smooth looking video this is due to the pixels being addressable

Colour
Pixels normally have colour formed from 3 bytes. These bytes are the 3 primary
colours so you get one byte for red, yellow and blue. For example an 8 bit scheme
can carry 256 different levels of each of the primary colours leading to 16 million+
colours available within each pixel as 256x256x256=16million. Black and white and
other colour schemes are also available but very rare finding

File size and compression


As bitmap image files can be very large compression methods are needed for
storage and to prevent slower loading times. For example an unpressed image at the
size of 1000px x 1000px will be at least 3 megabytes for 3 bytes per pixel causing
slower loading times and taking up more disk space. By using clever compression
methods such as compressing the common colours or encoding obvious patterns,
the information can be efficiently stored. Also, files such as JPEG can discard some
of the pixels to reduce the file size for storage as a compression method.

Vector Graphics
Vector graphics are based on paths called vectors which lead through control points
or nodes. They are mathematical expressions that represent images for computer
graphics and consist of geometrical primitives such as lines, shapes, curves, points
or polygons
Vector images are produced from a set of stored instructions of how to produce the
image this makes it ideal for using simple geometrical shapes such as logos, letters
and autoshapes rather than for use of detailed photos. This is because for a detailed
photo if using vector imaging to many instructions to produce that image would have
to be stored whereas for logos, letters and autoshapes that use simple lines, curves
and shapes only simple instructions are needed making vector imaging a perfect
preference. A vector image can be increased to any size without loss of quality to
that image because the instructions to build that image is the same no matter what
size is used, unlike a bitmap which uses pixels that creates pixellation when
increased which produces a poor image
For example

You are able to change the size without losing quality


the shape of each letter is still smooth no matter what the size
You can make it as large as you like and it will not pixelate or go fuzzy as a
bitmap image would

Application
Files such as CAD (computer aided design) are created in vector format because it is
vital that the computer represents scales and dimentions correctly for an image to be
reproduced. This allows an engineer to create precise and defined images that can
be linked proportionally to other images using the original scale factors. Even
complex shapes can be represented as vector imaging using defined mathematical
scaling to reproduce images. Animation packages that used Flash support vector
images are also best suited for this type of files

Objects
Vector imaging is also of great use for grouped graphics i.e. when images are
produced using more than one package for example CAD can be used to design a
car door but passed onto another engineer that can add to it to produce a car body
design without greatly increasing the file size. This type of graphic work is called
object orientated graphics. This type of vector format use is ideal for group work
where the application can be used on a number of occasions, resized and duplicated
with only a small increase in the file size. Also individual images produced in the
vector format can be edited independently.

Bitmap vs Vector
bitmap
Bitmap graphics needs to take up
much more memory storage than
vector graphics
In bitmap graphics individual
elements cannot be grouped
Bitmap Images lose a lot of quality
when enlarged so are less precise
than vector images
Bitmap graphics uses much less
processing power than vector
graphics
Bitmap uses pixels to create
images

vector
Vector graphics takes up much
less memory storage than bitmap
graphics
In vector graphics individual
elements can be grouped
Vector images can be enlarged to
any size without losing quality so
are much more precise than
bitmap images
Vector graphics uses much more
processing power than bitmap
graphics
Vector images are made up from
lines equations, calculations and
shapes

File Format
.jpg

File format

Bitmap or Vector
bitmap

.gif

bitmap

.tiff

bitmap

.png

bitmap

.bitmap

bitmap

Description
File extension for a lossy
graphics file. The JPEG
file extension is used
interchangeably with JPG
common usage limited to
an 8-bit palette, or 256
colours
most suitable for storing
graphics with few
colours, such as simple
diagrams, shapes, logos
and cartoon style images,
flexible format that
normally saves eight bits
or sixteen bits per colour
File format was created
as a free, open-source
alternative to GIF. The
PNG file format supports
eight-bit palette images
file format used to store
bitmap digital images,
independently of the
display device

Size
8 megs

1.0 megs

8.4 megs
6.5 megs

9.9 megs

Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitmap
http://www.teachict.com/as_a2_ict_new/ocr/AS_G061/316_present_communicate_data/bitmaps_
vectors/miniweb/pg2.htmn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_graphics
http://www.teachict.com/as_a2_ict_new/ocr/AS_G061/316_present_communicate_data/bitmaps_
vectors/miniweb/pg3.htm
http://www.teachict.com/as_a2_ict_new/ocr/AS_G061/316_present_communicate_data/bitmaps_
vectors/miniweb/pg4.htm

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