Bitmap and Vector Images Understand The Types of Graphics



When it comes to computer graphics, there are many programs available to create, manipulate and save the image files. Although images can be created and saved in different programs and may have different file types or extensions when it comes right down to it, all digital images are classified as vector images or bitmap images.

In very general terms, the difference between bitmap and vector images is in how the computer reads and displays the image.

Bitmap
The most common type of bitmap image. All scanned images and images from digital cameras are bitmaps. Web images are almost always bitmaps.
 
Bitmaps, sometimes called Rastor images are based on individual pixels that are mapped on a grid. A pixel (or Picture Element) is simply a dot of color. A bitmapped pixel image of 100 x 100 is in fact made up of 10,000 individual pixels which, seen together as a whole, form the image.
Since bitmaps are dependent on resolution, it is difficult to increase or decrease their size without sacrificing image quality. For example, when you reduce the size of a bitmap, you essentially throw pixels away. When you increase the size of a bitmap image in scale, simply make the pixels (or dots of color) larger and easier to see - which can result in an uneven look.
Bitmap images are best suited for photographs and images with complex color variations.

Vector Images
Vector images are composed of well defined geographical shapes, lines, curves and essentially points connected by lines of various shapes and sizes, which can then be filled with color. Vector images are mathematically derived by the computer and not based on pixels. Vector images are more suitable for logos and graphics, especially those that require precise measurements.
Because vector images are highly scalable, they are often used to create logos. Vector images can be easily converted to bitmaps, but a bitmap image can not be so easily converted to a vector image.

Graphics Software / Programs and image types
Some graphics programs work primarily with bitmap images, some with vector images, and some can work with both (or a combination thereof). program and bitmap and vector types of common file images include: Adobe Photoshop (.psd files) (bitmap) Macintosh Quickdraw (.pct, .pict files) (bitmap) PNG (.png) (bitmap) Targa Bitmap (.tga file) (bitmap) bitmap TIFF (.tif, .tiff) (bitmap) of Windows bitmap (.bmp) (bitmap) Adobe Illustrator (ai, eps file) (vector) AutoCAD (DWG, dXF) (vector) AutoDesk Draw (.dwg) (vector) Corel Draw (.cdr) (vector) Windows Metafile (.wmf files) (vector)

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