Digital Graphics File Formats

Richard Barber

Raster Graphics

• Give a definition of Raster GraphicsRaster graphics are made up of pixels and have a pre-set resolution, so if the person was to expand or compress the image then the picture will become pixelated and distorted leading to overall just bad image quality and it will make the picture harder to see.So when any number of pixels are expanded in an image (when it is a raster graphic) the picture only becomes distorted because it has the same pixels and the same amount of detailing its juts they have been spread out across a wider surface.

Vector Graphics

• Give a definition of Vector GraphicsVector graphics are made up of paths or strokes and these paths can become a line or a shape . With a vector image the definition is never lost, so the image can be expanded and all the same amount of detailing will be restored. So the edges stay smooth and clean. Which means that these graphics are better when it comes to specific areas within media, so can be better with logos. This is so that you don’t have to keep recreating the same image at different sizes just to fit them on different products, instead you can just change the image accordingly with a vector graphic. Another good example of what vector graphics could be useful for is for billboards as if you have created your image slightly small you can quickly make it much bigger, not lose definition and make it able to be seen on the billboard.

Raster Graphics

JPEGStands For Joint Photographic Experts Group

Used For/Example It is used mainly for display images, so can be used as backgrounds or social media photos.

Advantage The image already has a good quality due to the amount of pixels to the size of the image.Has a small file size so can easily be stored and moved around with very little time.

Disadvantage Involves a raster graphic so loses quality upon compression and expansion. Therefore doesn’t agree very well with sharp edges or major changes very well at all.

TIFFStands For Tagged Image File Format

Used For/Example A TIFF is used for desktop publishing and Is used for creating magazine covers or books.

Advantage Can store multiple pages onto one file so is popular with graphic designers so that they can create several different pages and save them to one document rather than having many different documents for each page. With a TIFF file there is also no quality lost when the work is compressed.

Disadvantage Has a rather large file size due to storing multiple pages on one document so transferring around will take some time.

GIFStands For Graphic Interchange Format

Used For/Example The gif is used mainly on social media and websites and are normally really short collection of images played fast to look like a moving image.

Advantage An advantage would be that the file size is so small and can easily be compressed as a small file so will not take much time to transfer the file around.

Disadvantage It seems to be an out-dated technology as there are many more files that can do this.

Once the code has been transferred to a gif then there is no going back and redoing the work.

BMPStands For Bitmap Image File

Used For/Example These are used to store bitmap images, these are rather complex and a quite similar to JPEGS.

Advantage The file can easily be created from other or existing pixel data.

Can easily be transferred to output devices and translate well to these devices. e.g. printers.

Disadvantage A large file size is normal with a BMP file as it stores so much and will take more time to move around and send to different people.

Vector Graphics

PSDStands For Photoshop Document

Used For/Example Is used to manipulate images and add layers onto them

Advantage Saves the individual layers that are put onto the document making transferring the file, somewhere else and then carrying on a lot easier.

Disadvantage The file size can be rather large so downloading and moving the file around can take quite a bit of time. Compressing can make not very much difference.

AIStands For Adobe illustrator Art

Used For/Example Is used to create logos and is a good software to use for this because of the vector graphics, this will make the company look good as the main picture they will see for them (logo’s) will not be at all distorted or show clear pixel definition.

Advantage Doesn’t lose definition due to it being a vector graphic therefore can be scaled to different sizes and it wont make any difference.

Disadvantage With the software being for design it can take several hours to get used to the software and work out exactly what to do

FLAStands For Flash File

Used For/Example Is used to create animations and games.

Advantage The person using this type of a file can make very high quality animations and keep the file size low.

Can add in sounds to the file to play alongside the moving animation. Therefore giving the moving image more of a depth to the animation whilst maintaining the low file size.

Disadvantage A disadvantage is that the file cannot be supported on the internet without a specific update or installation to fix he problem which is quite time consuming.

WMFStands For Windows Metafile

Used For/Example This file is another one that is used for logos and contains both vectors and bitmaps. The file is similar to an AI.

Advantage Can be enlarged or compressed as it is a vector graphic and these do not lose definition when increased or decreased in size. Contain elements of bitmap and vector components.

Disadvantage With the file only being from windows if the person trying to use this file is on an apple mac for example then there will be a problem with compatibility.

File Format Capture and Optimising

CompressionDefinition When something is compressed it is made

smaller, this in terms of imagery and graphics can largely affect the image due to the amount of pixels included in a normal picture (JPEG or a TIFF).

Advantage Is the saved file is a vector graphic (PSD or AI) then no image quality is lost due to this method.

Disadvantage When the image file is compressed the file can lose the quality and look pixelated if the file is a raster e.g. a JPEG or GIF file format.

Image CaptureMethod Scanner

How is it used for image capture of graphics

With the scanner its allows users to capture images by using the device to make a digital copy of the hand drawn image which can then be put forward onto a document or easily uploaded to the internet.

Method CameraHow is it used for image capture of

graphicsWith the camera it allows you to take images which can be put forward onto a computer to create a gif or be uploaded to the internet.

Method Graphics TabletHow is it used for image capture of

graphicsA recent development in technology that allows people to hand draw images and instantly transfer the data onto the computer screen so you don’t have to use a mouse to draw an image if you can just draw it anyway.

OptimisingWhy would you optimise? Optimization of an image can lead to

making the image easier to view and if not optimized may take a long time to download due to the size of the file being so big.

How can you optimise? to optimise the the image you can do several different things all of which can decrease the file size and make it easier to upload and view on the internet, one of which is by simply reducing the image size. Other examples include reducing the bit depth and reducing the resolution.

Advantage to optimising Can make the file size a lot smaller and therefore will increase download time as the file wont need to download as much data.

Disadvantage to optimising Can reduce saturation from the image and also can destroy resolution, so can either show no colouring or just be a picture of a lower quality.

Storage

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

What can affect a working scale document is pixel resolution and size of the image, which can also be from hiding certain layers that can affect the size of the file.

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

affecting quality?

To reduce the file size of the document you could just compress (optimise) the image, if the document is a PSD file then it will not lose quality becausee it is a vector graphic.

What is an advantage of scaling up images before exporting?

If the image has been scaled to a better size the file size can decrease and therefore the time it takes to successfully move the file around will not take very long.

What is a disadvantage of scaling up images before exporting?

The different scale factor choices that are [present are limited so will have to cut some of the image in order to export it.

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

You could separate them out so have one for the planning, one for all the different elements of production. This could include having the different images saved in one folder and then all the animations of the game in another then showing the worlds and all the architecture within the world to give a proper detailing into the work.

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

So that you know exactly what information is in which file so finding these will be simple and will not cost time when finding them. So having this extra level of organisation can make getting everything sent around a lot more of an easier task and will save time.

Asset Management

Why would you use folders when storing your assets?

When keeping folders it is the best way in order to keep all your files at hand and in a safe folder where you can organise everything that you need and not lose the work.

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

For example the folder could be saved under the video games and then having all the different files saved in there in their own separate folders.