Graphics

What are graphics

1. Combination of words, symbols, and images to create a visual representation of ideas and messages

2. Paper based or electronic

3. Created in two distinct formats:1. Vectors2. Bitmaps

Why are graphics important?

1.Catch the eye quicker than text alone

2.Be more powerful than text

3.Visual organisation of a company, institution or team

Vector or Bitmap

• There are two main types of graphics:• Bitmaps• Vectors

But what are the differences?

Vector

• Vector graphics are made up of geometric shapes and lines called objects

• It is possible to change the shape, size, colour and position of the object

• Image is scalable: it can be made very large or very small with no lose of quality

• File size is quite small, only saves points and curves of the graphic

Bitmap

• Bitmap graphics are made up of tiny single coloured cells called pixels

• The file size is often quite large, as it has to store lots of data

• As bitmaps are resized they tend to lose quality, becoming pixelated

• Photographs are bitmaps

Vector or Bitmap

Bitmap Graphics Vector graphics

What are they made up of?

Pixels of different colours Objects

What can be edited?

Individual pixels Individual objects

What is the file size?

Large, as the computer stores details of every pixel

Small, as the computer stores details of objects, which do not require much memory

What happens when they are

resized?They lose quality They do not lose quality

How real do they look?

RealNot real (many of them look like cartoon

images)

Native formats that the software

can read.bmp .svg

Common file formats

.bmp, .dib, jpeg, gif, tiff, .png .cgm, .svg, .odg, .eps, .xml