DIGITAL GRAPHICS & ANIMATION

Complete LESSON 1Creating Graphics

LESSON 1Introduction Graphics are building blocks for

developing exciting and informative multimedia documents, presentations, and publications.

They are the images you use to enhance the work you do on your computer and include drawing, photographs, cartoons, charts and maps

A. Understanding Vector and Bitmap Graphics

Two basic types of graphics used in computer applications:Vector GraphicsBitmap Graphics

A. Understanding Vector and Bitmap Graphics

Vector graphics consist of lines and curves – called vector paths – that are defined by mathematical objects called vectors.

Vector files are usually smaller than bitmap files because they consist of a series of mathematical formulas rather than many pixels, so they are easier to store and incorporate in other applications.

A. Understanding Vector and Bitmap Graphics The images also retain their original

definition and perspective when resized, so they can be displayed at different resolutions without losing quality.

This is useful if you need to show the same image on different monitors, such as when different user’s use the same web page.

A. Understanding Vector and Bitmap Graphics Bitmaps, which are sometimes called raster

images, use colored dots – called pixels – arranged in a grid to define the image.

Each pixel has a specific location and color that, when combined with the other pixels, create the image.

Bitmaps tend to lose definition as they are resized, because the individual dots become visible. Usually, photographs and clip art graphics are bitmaps.

B. Create, Save an Close Graphics Files

Before you begin working with graphics, you must learn how to create and save a graphics file.

Some graphics programs start with a new blank file already open.

In that case you can simply begin using the available tools to create a picture.

B. Create, Save an Close Graphics Files Some programs automatically create the

file using the default size, color and resolution settings for the drawing area, but other programs display a dialog box where you can select the settings you want to use. Default settings are the standard options

already selected in the program. Resolution is the quality or sharpness of an

image, usually measured in pixels per inch or one centimeter.

B. Create, Save an Close Graphics Files

Pixels, short for picture elements, are dots used to define some images on a computer screen.

The drawing area is the area within the document window where you draw and edit the image. Some programs call this area the canvas or the stage.

You may change the settings when you first create the file or at any time.

B. Create, Save an Close Graphics Files Most graphics programs let you have more

than one file open at a time, although only one can be active. The active file is the one in which you are currently working

Use the Save As command on the File menu to save graphics files for the first time. When you save a file for the first time, you give it a name and select a storage location.

B. Create, Save an Close Graphics Files

When you have finished using a graphics file, you should close it.

You can close a file by using the close command on the file menu, or by clicking the document close button on the document’s title bar.

After you close a file, the graphics program remains open so that you can continue using it.

C. Open an Existing Graphics File To work again with a file you have closed,

you must open it in your graphics program.

You can use the open button on the main or standard toolbar or the open command from the file menu to display the open dialog box.

D. Use Drawing Tools To create a vector drawing in a graphics

program, you use drawing tools to insert objects in the window.

In general, an object is any element, such as a shape or line.

The drawing tools are a collections of buttons from which you select the specific type and style of object you want to create.

D. Use Drawing Tools Although some tools vary from program to

program, most programs offer a set of tools for drawing basic shapes such as rectangles, ovals, and lines; for drawing freehand objects; and for creating different polygons.

Tools are usually available on a toolbar, in a toolbox, or in a tools panel along the edge of the program window, and are often grouped according to function.

D. Use Drawing Tools For example, one group may be used for

drawing basic shapes, another for modifying existing shapes, and another ay be for selecting existing shapes.

To use the drawing tool, click on it to select it. The mouse pointer changes to a crosshair.

D. Use Drawing Tools Hold down the mouse button and drag in

the document window to create the shape. Hold down the shift key while dragging in

order to constrain the shape. For example: use it with the Ellipse or Oval tool

to draw a perfect circle. Use it with the rectangle tool to draw a perfect

square. Use it with the line tool to draw lines at 45-

degree angles

D. Use Drawing Tools The shape is inserted in the drawing using

the current stroke and fill sections. The stroke is the line used to draw a shape. The fill is the area inside a shape.

In addition, small rectangles called selection handles are displayed around the shape.

These handles indicate that the shape is selected, and you can drag one to resize the shape.

D. Use Drawing Tools By default in most programs, shapes are

placed on the same layer in the image. A layer is a transparent plane used to

separate objects in a file. In some programs, such as Adobe

Photoshop, new shapes are placed on separate layers. To select an object, you must first select its layer in the layers panel.

D. Use Drawing Tools

TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION1 LINE TOOL Use to daw striaght lines2 ELLIPSE OR OVAL TOOL Use to draw ovals and circles3 RECTANGLE TOOL Use to draw rectangles and squares4 ROUNDED RECTANGLE TOOL Use to draw rectangles and squares wth rounded corners5 POLYGON TOOL Use to draw multisided shapes such as stars and octogons6 PENCIL TOOL Use to draw freehand as if using a pencil7 PEN TOL Use to draw precise lines and curves by plotting and connecting points8 BRUSH TOOL Use to draw as if using a paintbrush9 ERASER TOOL Use to remove objects or parts of objects from drawing

10 TEXT TOOL Use to insert text into a drawing11 POINTER, OR SELECTION TOOL Use to select objects in a drawing

COMMON DRAWING TOOLS

E. Select Vector Objects in a Drawing The easiest way to select an object is to

use the selection tool. The tool usually looks like a black pointing arrow, and has a name such as pointer, path selection, or selection.

To select the object, click the selection tool and then click the object. If the object is in a different layer, click once to

select the layer, then again to select the object.

E. Select Vector Objects in a Drawing

When an object is selected, selection handles are displayed around its edges. To select more than one object at a time. Select

the first object, press and hold shift. To cancel a selection, click a blank area of the

drawing. If you are unhappy with the results of your

drawing efforts, you can use the undo command to reverse your most recent action, or, in some programs, a series of actions.

E. Select Vector Objects in a Drawing Graphics programs usually have other

selection tools designed for specific purposes, such as the: marquee tool, which is used for selecting

bitmaps, subselection or direct selection tool, which is

used for selecting a single object that is part of a group.

Select behind tool, used to select an object that has another object overlapping it.

F. Select Stroke and Fill Options As mentioned earlier, when you draw a

shape, it uses the current stroke and fill settings or attributes.

Stroke thickness, which is sometimes called weight or tip size, is usually measured in points.

Some programs have panels, which are elements similar to dialog boxes that you can keep open on your screen while you work.

F. Select Stroke and Fill Options Most color palettes are a series of colored boxes that may

be called swatches. Some have color bars in a particular color scheme, as well

as no color options, buttons for accessing, additional options, and a text box where you can type the Hexadecimal codes.

Hexadecimal codes are standard alphanumeric vales used to identify colors based on the components of red, green and blue.

In some programs, when you open the color palette the mouse pointer changes to an eyedropper.

G. Change the View While you are working in your graphics program,

you may want to change the view to get a different look at your drawing.

The view is the way your file is displayed on he screen. Zooming – adjusts the size of the drawing on the screen

by a percentage of its actual size Panning – scrolls the drawing area up, down, left, and

right in the document window. You can also choose to show or hide the elements

you need to accomplish a specific task that can be found in the view menu

G. Change the View Commands that control the way a program

is displayed are toggles, which means they are either on or off. Each time you select a command, it switches from on to off, or off to on.

When a toggle command is on, it usually has a check mark beside it on the menu.

G. Change the View When you need to get a closer look at a

drawing, zoom in. Zooming increases or decreases the magnification of the drawing on your screen by a percentage of its original size.

For example: Zoom in to 500% to display the drawing five

times its actual size, or zoom out to 50% to display it at half its actual size

G. Change the View Pan in the document window to shift the

display so you can see a different part of the drawing area.

Panning is useful in large drawings or when you are zoomed in to a high magnification.

In both circumstances, lets you scroll to move the parts of the drawing that were outside the document window into the document window.

H. Modify the Drawing Area & Print The drawing area, canvas or stage is

created using default settings in size, resolution, and background color when you create a file.

To prepare a hard copy of a drawing, you use the print command.

Some programs have a print button on the main or standard toolbar that you can click to quickly print the file using the default settings.

FAST FACTS You can create new graphics files or open

existing graphics files When you save a file, you get a name and

a storage location. You should save frequently to avoid losing

work. You can draw basic shapes such as ovals,

rectangles, and lines using the drawing tools.

FAST FACTS You can change the color or style of strokes and

fills in selecting shapes or before you draw a new shape.

You can use different view modes to change the way a file is displayed.

In the view window, you can choose to show or hide the elements you need to accomplish a specific task.

You can toggle elements on or off depending on whether you want them displayed on the screen

FAST FACTS You can zoom in on an object to get a closer look,

zoom out to get an overall look at the entire drawing, or pan to shift the display to show areas outside the document window.

You can modify the size, color, and resolution settings of the drawing area when you first create a new file or at any time.

You can print an image to see how it will look on paper without having to specify the settings all the time.

FAST FACTS Commands for showing and hiding panels

are usually found on the view menu. Zoom in the document window to shift the

display so you can see a different part of the drawing

Lesson 1

Daily Grades

Lesson 1T/F Questions1. Some graphics programs start with a

new file already opened.2. Use the Save As command to quickly

save changes to a file.3. Shapes are drawn using the current

stroke and fill settings.4. The pointer tool is used to select objects

in a drawing.5. Undo can reverse only the most recent

action.

Lesson 1T/F Questions6. Vector graphics files are usually smaller than

bitmap files.7. Stroke thickness is usually measured in points.8. You can select only one drawing abject at a

time9. Zoom out to get a closer look at a particular

part of an image.10. You must always specify settings in a print

dialog box before printing a file

Lesson 1Witten Questions1. What are some of the common drawing

tools?2. What action might cause a bitmap image

to lose definition?3. What shape might the mouse pointer

take when you open a color palette?4. How an you tell if a screen element is

toggled on?5. If you want to display a drawing at 500

times its actual size, what should the zoom magnification be set to?

Lesson 1Fill in the Blank Questions1. Some programs refer to the drawing canvas as

the _____ or stage.2. Although more than one file may be open at the

same time, only one can be _____________3. Use the ________ drawing tool to draw a

multisided shape.4. Hold down the _____ key when using the Ellipse

tool in order to draw a perfect circle.5. The small rectangles around the edge o a shape

indicate that the shape is _____

Lesson 1Fill in the Blank Questions6. If you are unhappy with the results of your

drawing, click the ____ button.7. _____ graphics use pixels to define an image.8. _____ in the document window to shift the

display so you can see a different part of the drawing area.

9. Commands for showing and hiding panels are usually found on the _____menu

10. If you know it, you can type the ______ code for a particular color into the color palette text box in order to select that color.

Lesson 1 Vocabulary Define the following terms1. Active2. Bitmap3. Default4. Drawing Area5. Fill6. Graphics7. Hexadecimal code8. Layer9. Objects10. Pan

11. Panels12. Pixels13. Points14. Resolution15. Selection handles16. Stroke17. Toggle18. Vector19. View20. Zoom