NOTES: Vector v. Bitmap

Vector vs. Bitmap

• Bezier Curves/NURBS

What is Raster?

• Image or images created with pixels
• can be photo or video
• jpg,gif,psd,tiff,mpg,mov,wmv,mp4

Features of Raster

• Image file format standard for photography and video
• are resolution dependent
• more pixels = higher rez
• can be reduced in size but doesn't scale up without loss of quality
• Raste is a pixel-based image

What is Vector?

• Vector is a mathematically based method for creating line data
• popularized by Pierre Bizier to help with automobile manufacturing techniques for Renault.
• vector files are scalable without losing image quality
• because they are math based, vector files are smaller in file size generally
• vector files aren’t internet browser friendly, require the proper software for display such as Adobe Flash

Vector Graphics

• Vector graphics can be stored in different formats,AI,PDF,WMF,FLC
• Font data is stored as vector
• Are resolution “independent”

Vector vs. Bitmap

• Vector is scaleable, bitmap loses quality when scaled up
• Bitmap is best for photographs and video
• Fonts are stored as vector to ensure image quality at any size