Digital Graphics File Formats

Finlay Jackson

Raster Graphics

• Raster graphics is made out of bit maps, bit maps are made out of pixels instead of vectors, this is due to the fact that pixels allow smoother brush strokes, this means that the use of raster graphics is only advised for practical use is if you are drawing using a graphic pad, ( E.G. bamboo pad ) but even then the use of vector graphics would be a more effective media, this is due to the fact that upscaling the image will not result in a mess of pixels such as using raster graphics due to the use of bitmaps.

Vector Graphics

• Vector graphics vectors which are made out of lines and strokes, due to this if you were to zoom into a image that is utilising vector graphics then there is only a small reduction of quality of the image unlike bitmaps that pixilate.

• Despite the fact that vector graphics can be zoomed into and still retain their original resolution they are still not as effective at mimicking a brushstroke which can be rather effective when using a graphics tablet.

Raster Graphics

JPEGStands For Joint Photographic Experts Group

Used For/Example JPEG’s are used universally for a wide range of tasks, for example JPEG’s are commonly used on webpages, this is due to the fact that the files are compressed this means that the images are much faster to render.

Advantage JPEG’s are used universally, this means that the majority of devices, from phones to laptops can open and utilise them.

Disadvantage Jpegs compress every time you open them, this means that the quality of the image is reduced every time you open / use them.

TIFFStands For Tagged image file format

Used For/Example Tiff files are typically used by graphic designers for the use of editing software such as adobe Photoshop. Tiff files also retain their quality every time that you open them, but

Advantage Tiff files are commonly used by graphical designers, this is due to the fcat that tiff files do not lose any of their quality every time that you open them.

Disadvantage TIFF files are generally quite big, thus if your computer has a small storage space this is an impractical file size to use, or you should consider to use a form of online storage such as google drive.

GIFStands For Graphics Interchange Format

Used For/Example GIF’s are a complication of images that give the illusion of video. GIF’s are composed of frames of low quality images in order to create an illusion of video.

Advantage GIF’s use low quality images ( only 8bit with a limit of 256 colours per image), this means that the size of the file will be very low and will not take up any significant space .

Disadvantage The quality of gifs are very low, this is due to the fcat that the images that are used in gifs can only be 8bit, as well they have a limit of 256 colours

BMPStands For Bit map file

Used For/Example BMP is a widely used file format, for example BMP’s can be used in nearly every program from Microsoft power point to adobe Photoshop.

Advantage The advantages of using bit map files is that its an effective tool is you are using a graphic input devise, this is as bitmaps are effective at mimicking brushstrokes due to the fact that they use pixels which create a smooth texture.

Disadvantage If you stretch a BMP image in an type of image editing software the image becomes distorted due to the fcat that bit maps do not use an effective algorithm such as vector graphics.

Vector Graphics

PSDStands For Photoshop document

Used For/Example PSD’s are most commonly used during digital design on adobe Photoshop this is due to the fcat that PSD’s are very flexible in design, this is as the file keeps the layers that have been created during the development of the image in Photoshop.

Advantage All of the layers that have been created are still visible even after saving. Meaning that there are a lot of possibilities for customisation even after the file has been saved.

Disadvantage The file size of PSD’s are very large, sometimes over 10 gigabytes in size, this means that your storage will be maxed out rather quickly if you do not invest in extra storage.

FLAStands For Flash

Used For/Example Flash files have a large range of uses sue to the amount of software that utilizes that and their minimal requirements and large availability.

Advantage One advantage of which is a huge range of software and hardware can utilize these types of files. For example Flash can be used in order to create assets for video games on all platforms (console, pc and mobile) as well Slash files use vector graphics meaning there both upscaling images and downscaling them will not distort the image.

Disadvantage The downside to using flash is that it is constantly updated, this can be seen as both a positive due to the fact that it shows that the developer is constantly updating the program, but it also becomes frustrating as you have to manually have to update the file to be able to use many applications that force you to commit this process.

WMFStands For Windows meta file

Used For/Example The widows media format was created in the late nineties, this file format contains both elements of vectors and bitmap.

Advantage There are not many advantages if any, to using this file format, this is due to the fact that to be able to use this format you have to have a license / subscription with Microsoft to be able to create this file type, and secondly there are many different file types that can be used that are much more effective which can be created using free software, such as Jpegs.

Disadvantage Only first party software can generally open WMF’s, this means that there is a very small amount of files that are compatible, due to this limiting factor not many files are ever used/converted into this file type.

File Format Capture and Optimising

AIStands For Adobe illustrator

Used For/Example AI is a vector based file that is used in adobe files, this makes this one of the most specialist files types that are available.

Advantage The use of vector graphics means that there is less distortion when resizing images. Also illustrator files are usable in other adobe programs meaning that there is a large amount of cross compatibility and customization.

Disadvantage But AI files are also rather large, just like PSD’s , this means that you will again have to trade in quality and compatibility for a large file size.

CompressionDefinition Compression is the reduction of the size of

a product / item, this mean that more items will be able to be stored in .

Advantage Compression reduces the size of a file, this means that more items can be stored on a USB / hard drive.

Disadvantage Compression also reduces the quality of a file due to the fact that the file has been reduced in size, usually every time you compress a file the quality will continue to deteriorate, one example of a file type that does this are Jpegs.

Image CaptureMethod Scanner

How is it used for image capture of graphics

A scanner allows you to be able to take a high quality scan of an item / image that it then converted into a high quality digital format, this file can then be edited in a large variety of methods.

Method CameraHow is it used for image capture of

graphicsA camera allows you to be able to take images of items and then convert these items into a image format, (Jpeg / RAW) that can then be transported onto a physical storage device ( such as a SD card ) allowing for it to be edited though software.

Method Graphics TabletHow is it used for image capture of

graphicsA graphics table is an external device that allows you to be able to utilize a electronic pen device on a touch / pressure. This allows improved control when using editing / drawing software on the PC

OptimisingWhy would you optimise? Optimizing allows your images to be the

size you want at a reduction in quality.

How can you optimise? One of the most used ways in order to optimize a file is to do it on the internet though a website, but there are other methods, such as through software.

Advantage to optimising Files that have not been optimized have large file sizes, this means that more space will be taken up on your pc’s storage as well as the file taking longer to upload and download. But is you are to optimize the file it will take up less space as well as taking a smaller amount of time to render for editing and viewing.

Disadvantage to optimising Optimizing will reduce the size of a file, despite the fact that this will reduce in a reduction in the files size but also of the file’s overall quality / resolution.

Storage

File SizeWhat could affect a Working Scale (Photoshop) document file size?

The resolution would affect the size of the file, this is due to the fact that the higher the resolution of the images in the file, then the higher the file size, this is the same as the lower the resolution the smaller the file size.

How could you reduce the file size of a Working Scale document without

affecting quality?

One method that you could use to be able to reduce the file size of a working scale document would be to delete non essential parts of a document. Another method is to merge layers when handling large size file types such as PSD.

What is an advantage of scaling up images before exporting?

Upscaling allows an image to look less “pixilated” creating a much softer / more visually appearing image when viewed on high resolution displays.

What is a disadvantage of scaling up images before exporting?

Scaling up an image before exporting would mean that the overall quality of the image will be reduced as a result of “stretching” the image.

File Naming ConventionsWhat naming conventions could you use when creating your video game assets?

When creating a video game thousands of different assets are used for different textures and mp3 files. If a different specific name is used for each file then it will become much easier to be able to locate certain elements of the games assets. Compare to using the default name that is given to a file which is determined by the first sentence in a file.

Why is it a good idea to accurately name your assets?

It is a good idea to name your assets correctly as it will become difficult to find the file. For example if you need to save various versions of a file though out of its development you will end up with a file having several similar names witch will make different files hard to distinguish. (E.G. file(1) file(2) file(3) will make the different versions hard to find without opening them all)

Asset ManagementWhy would you use folders when storing

your assets?Using your folders to store your assets is an effective method for storing information, this is due to the fact that it will allow you to identify a file easily.

What folders would you create and what would you save within them

For example if I was going to create a file for my photography an easy method of locating this would be to create a folder in my photos with the date that these photos were taken or I would create a relevant name. Thus reducing the time that it would take me to be able to locate the file.