Computer Graphics and Animation 1

PANPACIFIC UNIVERSITY NORTH PHILIPPINES
Urdaneta City, Pangasinan

First Semester School Year 2016-2017
COMPUTER GRAPHICS AND ANIMATION 1
LECTURE NOTES
Working with bitmap images and vector graphics
Computer graphics fall into two main categories--bitmap and vector. You can work
with both types of graphics in Photoshop and ImageReady; moreover, a Photoshop
file can contain both bitmap and vector data. Understanding the difference between
the two categories helps as you create, edit, and import artwork.If you work in
prepress, you need a good understanding on the advantages and disadvantages of
both types of data. These pages try to explain the differences.
As a general rule digital pictures and scanned images are bitmap files. These
are sometime also called raster images.
Drawings made in applications like Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw are saved
as vector graphics.
Bitmap images--technically called raster images--are made up of a grid of dots

known as pixels. When working with bitmap images, you edit pixels rather than
objects or shapes. Bitmap images are the most common electronic medium for
continuous-tone images, such as photographs or digital paintings, because they can
represent subtle gradations of shades and color.
Bitmap images can lose detail when scaled on-screen because they are resolutiondependent, they contain a fixed number of pixels, and each pixel is assigned a
specific location and color value. Bitmapped images can look jagged if they're
printed at too low a resolution because the size of each pixel is
Example of a bitmap image at different levels of magnification
Instructor: A. Valencia
College of Computer Studies

Vector graphics are made up of mathematically defined lines and curves called
vectors. This means that you can move, resize, or change the color of a line without
losing the quality of the graphic.
Vector graphics are resolution-independent--that is, they can be scaled to any size
and printed at any resolution without losing detail or clarity. As a result, vector
graphics are the best choice for representing bold graphics that must retain crisp
lines when scaled to various sizes (logos, for example).
Example of a vector graphic at different levels of magnification

Understanding the relationship between the pixel dimension of an image and its
print resolution is key to producing high-quality images.
The amount of detail in an image depends on its pixel dimensions, while the image
resolution controls how much space the pixels are printed over. For example, you
can modify an image's resolution without changing the actual pixel data in the
image--all you change is the printed size of the image. However, if you want to
maintain the same output dimensions, changing the image's resolution requires a
change in the total number of pixels.
Pixel dimensions equal document (output) size times resolution A. Decreasing the
resolution without changing pixel dimensions (no resampling) B. Original dimensions
and resolution C. Decreasing the resolution at same document size decreases pixel
dimensions (resampling)

Pixel dimensions and image resolution
The number of pixels along the height and width of a bitmap image is called the
pixel dimensions of an image.
The resolution of an image is determined by the number of pixels per inch (ppi)
printed on a page. In Photoshop, you can change the resolution of an image.
In ImageReady, the resolution of images is always 72 ppi, to optimize the images for
online media.
Example of an image at 72-ppi and 300-ppi

When printed, an image with a high resolution contains more, and therefore smaller,
pixels than an image with a low resolution. Higher-resolution images can reproduce
more detail and subtler color transitions than lower-resolution images because of
the density of the pixels in the images. High-quality images often look good at any
print size.
You can't improve a lower-quality image by printing it at a high resolution. Changing
the print resolution of an image simply makes each pixel larger, which results in
pixelation--output with large, coarse-looking pixels. Increasing the print resolution of
an image doesn't add any pixel information to the image. You can make a lowresolution image look its best by picking a print size that makes the most of the
pixels it has. For more information on print resolution, see Printer resolution.
It's important to note that video files are displayed only at 72 ppi. Even if an
image has a higher resolution than 72 ppi, when it's displayed in a video editing
application, the quality may not look very good.

Printing the same low-resolution image at different sizes A. Small print size B.
Medium print size C. Large print size
File size
The file size of an image is the digital size of the image file, measured in kilobytes
(K), megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB). File size is proportional to the pixel
dimensions of the image. Images with more pixels may produce more detail at a
given printed size, but they require more disk space to store and may be slower to
edit and print. Image resolution thus becomes a compromise between image quality
(capturing all the data you need) and file size.
Another factor that affects file size is file format. Due to varying compression
methods used by GIF, JPEG, and PNG file formats, file sizes can vary considerably for
the same pixel dimensions. Similarly, color bit-depth and the number of layers and
channels in an image affect file size.
Photoshop supports a maximum pixel dimensions of 300,000 by 300,000 pixels per
image. This restriction places limits on the print size and resolution available to an
image.
Monitor resolution
Image data are translated directly into monitor pixels. This means that when the
image resolution is higher than the monitor resolution, the image appears larger onscreen than its specified print dimensions.
Monitor resolution depends on the size of the monitor plus its pixel setting. For
example, a large image (800-by-600-pixel dimension) shown on a 15-inch monitor
would almost fill the screen, but on a larger monitor, the same image would take up
less room on the screen, and each pixel would appear larger.

Example of an image displayed on monitors of various sizes and resolutions

Important: When you are preparing an image for online display, pixel dimensions
become especially important. You should make sure that the size of an image allows
room for the Web browser window controls on smaller monitors.
Printer resolution
Printer resolution is measured by the number of ink dots per inch (dpi) produced by
all laser printers, including imagesetters.
Inkjet printers produce a microscopic spray of ink, not actual dots; however, most
inkjet printers have an approximate resolution of 300 to 720 dpi. Many inkjet printer
drivers offer simplified print settings for choosing higher quality printing. To
determine your printer's optimal resolution, check your printer documentation.
Technically both data formats are completely different. The end result however can
look virtually identical in either format. As a general rule bitmaps are typically used
to depict lifelike images whereas vector graphics are more often used for abstract
images such as logos. There are however numerous exceptions to this rule. It is
often impossible to determine whether an image is a bitmap or a vector file just by
looking at it.
Vexel art, for instance, are bitmap images that have been manipulated to
look as if they are vector data. The technique is used to create attentiongrabbing realistic images that have an artificial and sharpened look to them.
Talented artists like Yukio Miyamoto can draw photorealistic images using
vectors.

Photorealistic vector art from Yukio Miyamoto

You can convert a bitmap image into a vector file. A vector image can be
transformed into a bitmap. There are even file formats that can combine both types
of data into a single file.
Bitmap images
Bitmap images are exactly what their name says they are: a collection of bits that
form an image. The image consists of a matrix of individual dots (or pixels) that all
have their own color (described using bits, the smallest possible units of information
for a computer).
Lets take a look at a typical bitmap image to demonstrate the principle:
Example of a bitmap image

To the left you see an image and to the right a 250 percent enlargement of the top
of one of the mountains. As you can see the image consists of hundreds of rows and
columns of small elements that all have their own color. One such element is called
a pixel short for picture element. The human eye is not capable of seeing each
individual pixel so we perceive a picture with smooth gradations.

The number of pixels you need to get a realistic looking image depends on the way
the image will be used. One of the next pages goes into more detail on this.
Types of bitmap images

Bitmap images can contain any number of colors but there are four main
categories:
1. Line-art. These are images that only contain two colors, usually black and
white. Sometimes these images are referred to as bitmaps because a
computer has to use only 1 bit (on=black, off=white) to define each pixel.
Example of a lineart image

2. Grayscale images, which contain various shades of gray as well as pure black
and white.Typically 256 shades of gray (8-bit) are used even though the
human visual system needs only 100 tints to perceive an image as life-like.
Example of a grayscale image

3. Multitones: such images contain shades of two or more colors. The most
popular multitone images are duotones, which usually consist of black and a
second spot color (often a Pantone color). The example below contains black
and Pantone Warm Red.

Example of a duotone image

4. Full color images. The color information can be described using a number of
color spaces: RGB, CMYK or Lab for instance.
Example of a color image

Characteristics of bitmap data
Bitmap data can take up a lot of room. A CMYK A4-size picture that is optimized for
medium quality printing (150 lpi) takes up 40 MB. Compression can reduce the
size of the file.
The image with the enlargement showed one of the main disadvantages of bitmap
images: once they are enlarged too much, they look unnatural and blocky. Reducing
their sizes also has an impact on image quality as images lose a bit of sharpness.
Bitmaps are fairly simple to output, as long as your RIP or printer has sufficient
memory.
Applications that can handle bitmap data
There are hundreds of applications on the market that can be used to create or
modify bitmap data. In prepress, one application Adobe Photoshop completely
dominates the market. This doesnt mean that cheaper alternatives like Corel PhotoPaint, should be disregarded.
File formats that are used for bitmap data
Bitmap data can be saved in a wide variety of file formats. Among these are:
BMP: an outdated and limited file format that is not suitable for use in
prepress.
EPS: a flexible file format that can contain both bitmap and vector data. It is
gradually being replaced by PDF.
GIF: mainly used for internet graphics


JPEG: or rather the JFIF file format, which is mainly used for internet graphics
PDF: versatile file format that can contain just about any type of data
including complete pages,it is not yet widely used to exchange just images
PICT: file format that can contain both bitmap and vector data but that is
mainly used on Macintosh computers and is not very suitable for prepress.
PSD: the native file format of Adobe Photoshop (which can also contain vector
data such as clipping paths)
TIFF: a popular and versatile bitmap file format
Vector graphics
Vector graphics are images that are completely described using mathematical
definitions. The image below shows the principle. To the left you see the image itself
and to the right you see the actual lines that make up the drawing.
Example of a vector image

Each individual line is made up of either a vast collection of points with lines
interconnecting all of them or just a few control points that are connected using so
called Bzier curves. It is this latter method that generates the best results and that
is used by most drawing programs.
To the right is an example of using Bzier curves

This drawing demonstrates the two principles. To the left a circle is formed by
connecting a number of points using straight lines. To the right, you see the same
circle that is now drawn using 4 points (nodes) only.
Characteristics of vector drawings
Vector drawings are usually pretty small files because they only contain data about
the Bzier curves that form the drawing. The EPS file format that is often used to
store vector drawings includes a bitmap preview image along the Bzier data. The
file size of this preview image is usually larger than the actual Bzier data
themselves.
Vector drawings can usually be scaled without any loss in quality. This makes them
ideal for company logos, maps or other objects that have to be resized frequently.
Please note that not all vector drawings can be scaled as much as you like:
Drawings containing trapping information can only be scaled up to 20 percent

larger or smaller.
Thin lines may disappear if a vector drawing is reduced too much.
Small errors in a drawing may become visible as soon as it is enlarged too

much.
It is fairly easy to create a vector based drawing that is very difficult to output.
Especially the use of tiles (small objects that are repeated dozens or hundreds of
times) and Corel Draw lens effects can lead to very complex files.
Applications that can handle vector data
There are hundreds of applications on the market that can be used to create or
modify vector data. In prepress, Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw are the most
popular programs.
File formats that are used for vector data
Bitmap data can be saved in a wide variety of file formats. Oddly enought the most
relevant formats for the printing industry are also capable of storing bitmap
information:
EPS: the most popular file format to exchange vector drawings even though
PDF is quickly gaining ground.
PDF: versatile file format that can contain just about any type of data
including complete pages.
PSD: the native file format of Adobe Photoshop.
AI: the native file format of Adobe Illustrator.
How to convert bitmap data to vector data and back

It is sometimes necessary to transform images from bitmap data to vector data or
back. Some possible uses include:
If you scan or photograph a logo, it is a bitmap image. If it is going to be used

often in a layout it is more practical to have that logo as a vector drawing.
That reduces its file size and you can change the image size without worrying
about any loss in quality.
Vector drawings often have to be converted to bitmaps if they will be used on

a web page.
Vector drawings are sometimes too complicated for a RIP to be output on film
or plate. Converting them to a bitmap simplifies the file.
Luckily it is fairly easy to convert images from one mode to the other:
From bitmap data to vector graphics: the process to convert a bitmap image
to vector data is called outlining or vectorizing. Some drawing applications
such as Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw have this option built in. There are
also separate programs available to vectorize bitmap images. For simple jobs
the easiest solution is to put the bitmap image on the background of the
canvas of a drawing application and manually draw over it.
From vector graphics to bitmap data:

o
Many drawing applications can store vector data as bitmap files as well
(usually this option is hidden in the Export menu option).
You can always view a vector file on screen, then take a screen capture
and save this screen capture as a bitmap image.
Photoshop can open some vector file formats and rasterize the file so
that it becomes a bitmap file. A pop-up menu allows you to define the
resolution and color mode of the bitmap data.

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PANPACIFIC UNIVERSITY NORTH PHILIPPINES

Urdaneta City, Pangasinan