File Types Evaluation

1. Digital Graphics
File Formats
Ben Huyton

2. Raster Graphics
• Raster Graphics are digital images created or
captured as a set of samples in a given space.
A raster is a grid of x and y coordinates on a
display space and for three dimensional
images, a to z coordinate.

3. Vector Graphics
• Vector Graphics is the use of geometrical
primitives such as points, lines, curves and
shapes. All of these are based on
mathematical expressions to represent
images in computer graphics. Vector graphics
are based on vectors which lead through
locations called control points.

4. Raster Graphics

5. JPEG
Stands For Joint Photographic Expert Group
Used For/Example Photographs and Web Formats
Advantage Format is compatible and can be displayed
in any browsers, text and graphics
programs, on all computers, tablets and
mobile devices. JPEG also carry a small file
size.
Disadvantage Loses quality with multiple edits due to
compression and recompression. This
format also does not support transparency
and in case of drawing templates or logos
it is necessary.

6. TIFF
Stands For Tagged Image File Format
Used For/Example Adobe InDesign Documents
Advantage Uncompressed image retains maximum
amount of image data from the camera.
TIFF files can also be compressed to
reduce file sizes using mathematical
algorithms such as ZIP or TAR without loss
of image data
Disadvantage TIFF have large file sizes of around 20mb
for a 10 megapixel image, so larger
storages devices needed for long term
archival use.

7. GIF
Stands For Graphics Interchange Format
Used For/Example Short Digital animations
Advantage GIF files support images containing a
degree of transparency, something that
other file types cannot do. As well as this
GIF’s have relatively small file sizes. This
means that they can be used easily online
as they can load quicker and still have
good quality.
Disadvantage This file type only have a maximum colour
palette of 256 colours so therefore can
sometimes look of poorer quality than
other types of file or image. This can lead
to the images having more ‘blocky’ colours
and also looking slightly pixelated.

8. BMP
Stands For Bitmap Image File
Used For/Example To create realistic graphics and images
Advantage Bitmap files may be easily created from
existing pixel data stored in an array in
memory. This file type can also retrieve
pixel data by using a set of coordinates
that allows the data to be conceptualized
as a grid.
Disadvantage They can be very large, particularly if the
image contains a large number of colours.
Data compression can shrink the size of
pixel data but the data must be expanded
before it can be used and this can slow
down the reading and rendering process
considerably.

9. Vector Graphics

10. PSD
Stands For Photoshop Document
Used For/Example Image Manipulation
Advantage PSD saves layers and supports
transparency. It is also ideal for use when
processing images as a user can save the
file and then go back to it at a later date
Disadvantage Generally only recognised by Photoshop
software and certain other image
manipulation software.

11. AI
Stands For Adobe Illustrator Art
Used For/Example Logo’s Creation
Advantage Whether scaled big or small it has no loss
in definition. It also allows you more
flexibility with customizing the workspace.
It comes with a user interface that allows
custom viewing and enables space saving
Disadvantage Since it is a design software some amount
of skill or training is required to master it.
A good idea is to check out the numerous
tutorials that are available by adobe itself
or spend some time with the tools this
program is loaded with to master it.

12. FLA
Stands For Flash File Image
Used For/Example Animation and Games
Advantage can produce high quality files with a small
file size. FLA’s also load fairly quickly when
uploading or saving and are also
compatible with most web browsers.
Disadvantage A disadvantage with flash file images are
that you cannot implement sound. It is
also hard to create detailed animations.

13. File Format Capture
and Optimising

14. Compression
Definition Compression is the way in which files size
are reduced by reduced by reducing the
amount of information that is saved.
Advantage Compression can give the ability to make
professional business cards with ease or
scale an image to the size of a billboard.
Disadvantage Images become more pixelated when they
are compressed.

15. Image Capture
Method Scanner
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
You can get physical images like sketches,
physical photo.
Method Camera
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
Taking pictures.
Method Graphics Tablet
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
A piece of technology that allows you to
control the mouse like a pen, allowing for
enhanced control of drawing.

16. Optimising
Why would you optimise? Images that are uploading to the internet
are optimised to ensure easy viewing on
the web
How can you optimise? you can optimise for web by changing
‘image size’ in photoshop.
Advantage to optimising Images must not be more than 500 pixels
wide, optimised images can be easier to
view on the web and reduce file size.
Disadvantage to optimising There is a chance quality will be lost, due
to a smaller image size, this will mean,
faster loading times, but quality will be
lost.

17. Storage

18. File Size
What could affect a Working Scale
(Photoshop) document file size?
the file type would be key because certain
file types lose quality whereas others
don’t
How could you reduce the file size of a
Working Scale document without
affecting quality?
scaling it to 25% from the original.
What is an advantage of scaling up
images before exporting?
Doing this right will not lose quality.
What is a disadvantage of scaling up
images before exporting?
However doing this wrongly will likely
result in more pixelated images.

19. File Naming Conventions
What naming conventions could you use
when creating your video game assets?
basic materials, folders for characters,
player characters, environment assets,
backgrounds and foliage etc.
Why is it a good idea to accurately name
your assets?
easy to find and easy to sort out.

20. Asset Management
Why would you use folders when storing
your assets?
so you can find and access your assets a
lot easier rather than searching through
loads of files named untitled.
What folders would you create and what
would you save within them
these would be saved on desktop so they
are always there so therefore easily
accessible.