Graphic Images 101

Painted on a grid

Drawn mathematically

Categories of Graphics

BITMAP an image created with pixels—small squares of color; quality determined by resolution; resizing distorts the image; also known as a raster graphic

object is drawn mathematically; resizing recalculates the formula; no loss of quality

VECTOR

Vectors• Vector graphics are DRAWN,

not painted.• Vectors retain quality when

resized• The drawing tools in Publisher,

PowerPoint, PhotoShop and Word create vectors.

• Adobe Illustrator is a drawing program

Clip Art• Windows metafiles. If you can

take the image apart, you may well be working with a metafile. The file format is .wmf.

• A metafile is a Microsoft version of a vector graphic

Other vectors• Graphs / charts

(Excel)• Scalable fonts

TimesNewRoman

TimesNewRoman

Types of Bitmaps

• .bmp• .jpg• .gif

• .tif• .png

.bmp• Largest graphic file

size,generally not compressed• Supports 16.7 million colors• Files created in PAINT are

typically bitmaps• Do not send as attachments

.jpg• Best choice for photos• Compressed file format• Supports 16.7 million colors• Appropriate for web pages• Does not support

transparency

.gif• Compressed file format• Supports:

– Transparency– Animations– 256 colors

• Appropriate for web pages• Best choice for graphic images

.tif• Not compressed—large file

size• Supports 16.7 million colors• Can be used for photographs• Not appropriate for web pages

or attachments

.png• Compressed file format• Supports:

– Transparency– 16.7 million colors– Animation

• Excellent for photos

.bmp 4.21 MB .gif 657 KB

.jpg 360 KB .tif 4.21 MB

Bitmap Software

• To create: use a painting program, digital camera, scanner

• To edit: use a digital imaging program like Photoshop, GIMP, Picassa.