Digital Imaging
It is important for artists and designers to understand the differences between object-oriented, vector graphics and bitmapped, raster graphics. Aesthetically, they are capable of very diverse kinds of image creation. Technically, they create very different file structures.
Drawing and Painting
There are two kinds of image files in computer graphics: vector graphics and raster graphics. These are also known as object-oriented and bitmapped graphics.
Vector Graphics
Vector graphics involve creating shapes that are clean edged and are defined as geometric objects. The vector object, whether a shape or a drawn line, can be easily selected and edited, repositioned and transformed. Vector graphics are resolution independent, which means they retain crisp edges when enlarged. However large or small you transform a vector file, it remains perfectly sharp.
Vector graphics are used in typography, which needs to be perfectly crisp and clear. They are also used in illustration, in the creation of GIF files for the web, for animation, and in engineering diagrams.
Raster Graphics
Raster graphics are a painterly approach that involves changing the color attributes of pixels. Photoshop and Painter are examples of software programs that create raster files. As you know, pixels are individual picture elements that are the basic structure of raster files. Each individual pixel can be manipulated separately. They form a "map" of your image.
The colors in raster graphics can appear to have gradual transitions and softened edges. Each brush stroke appears to blend with the next. Raster graphics are used in anything involving the creation and manipulation of photo-based imagery. They are used in illustration and fine art. They are an important part of web JPEG graphics.
Object-Oriented and Bitmapped Graphics
Let's summarize the differences between these two kinds of graphic data files. Vector graphics programs are object-oriented and create images with clean, sharp lines based on Cartesian coordinates. These images can always be selected and moved independently of other objects in the file. They can be changed in size with no loss of clarity. Bitmapped graphics are raster graphics comprised of pixels. Each pixel is individually manipulated through color and size to make a bitmapped file based on on-and-off commands. Bitmapped images lose data when changed in size but allow for a very painterly effect. Applications that have tools like paint cans and erasers are usually bitmapped graphics.
Descartes created the Cartesian coordinate system upon which vector graphics are based.. Familiar to many students of geometry and algebra, the x and y coordinates represent a two-dimensional shape. The x, y, and z coordinates describe the position of a three-dimensional graphic. Lines drawn between coordinate points create vector images. These points are referred to in software terms as anchor points.
Drawing and Painting
There are two kinds of image files in computer graphics: vector graphics and raster graphics. These are also known as object-oriented and bitmapped graphics.
Vector Graphics
Vector graphics involve creating shapes that are clean edged and are defined as geometric objects. The vector object, whether a shape or a drawn line, can be easily selected and edited, repositioned and transformed. Vector graphics are resolution independent, which means they retain crisp edges when enlarged. However large or small you transform a vector file, it remains perfectly sharp.
Vector graphics are used in typography, which needs to be perfectly crisp and clear. They are also used in illustration, in the creation of GIF files for the web, for animation, and in engineering diagrams.
Raster Graphics
Raster graphics are a painterly approach that involves changing the color attributes of pixels. Photoshop and Painter are examples of software programs that create raster files. As you know, pixels are individual picture elements that are the basic structure of raster files. Each individual pixel can be manipulated separately. They form a "map" of your image.
The colors in raster graphics can appear to have gradual transitions and softened edges. Each brush stroke appears to blend with the next. Raster graphics are used in anything involving the creation and manipulation of photo-based imagery. They are used in illustration and fine art. They are an important part of web JPEG graphics.
Object-Oriented and Bitmapped Graphics
Let's summarize the differences between these two kinds of graphic data files. Vector graphics programs are object-oriented and create images with clean, sharp lines based on Cartesian coordinates. These images can always be selected and moved independently of other objects in the file. They can be changed in size with no loss of clarity. Bitmapped graphics are raster graphics comprised of pixels. Each pixel is individually manipulated through color and size to make a bitmapped file based on on-and-off commands. Bitmapped images lose data when changed in size but allow for a very painterly effect. Applications that have tools like paint cans and erasers are usually bitmapped graphics.
Descartes created the Cartesian coordinate system upon which vector graphics are based.. Familiar to many students of geometry and algebra, the x and y coordinates represent a two-dimensional shape. The x, y, and z coordinates describe the position of a three-dimensional graphic. Lines drawn between coordinate points create vector images. These points are referred to in software terms as anchor points.