2. Raster Graphics
• Raster graphics is made out of bit maps, bit maps
are made out of pixels instead of vectors, this is
due to the fact that pixels allow smoother brush
strokes, this means that the use of raster graphics
is only advised for practical use is if you are
drawing using a graphic pad, ( E.G. bamboo pad )
but even then the use of vector graphics would
be a more effective media, this is due to the fact
that upscaling the image will not result in a mess
of pixels such as using raster graphics due to the
use of bitmaps.
3. Vector Graphics
• Vector graphics vectors which are made out of
lines and strokes, due to this if you were to zoom
into a image that is utilising vector graphics then
there is only a small reduction of quality of the
image unlike bitmaps that pixilate.
• Despite the fact that vector graphics can be
zoomed into and still retain their original
resolution they are still not as effective at
mimicking a brushstroke which can be rather
effective when using a graphics tablet.
5. JPEG
Stands For Joint Photographic Experts Group
Used For/Example JPEG’s are used universally for a wide
range of tasks, for example JPEG’s are
commonly used on webpages, this is due
to the fact that the files are compressed
this means that the images are much
faster to render.
Advantage JPEG’s are used universally, this means
that the majority of devices, from phones
to laptops can open and utilise them.
Disadvantage Jpegs compress every time you open
them, this means that the quality of the
image is reduced every time you open /
use them.
6. TIFF
Stands For Tagged image file format
Used For/Example Tiff files are typically used by graphic
designers for the use of editing software
such as adobe Photoshop. Tiff files also
retain their quality every time that you
open them, but
Advantage Tiff files are commonly used by graphical
designers, this is due to the fcat that tiff
files do not lose any of their quality every
time that you open them.
Disadvantage TIFF files are generally quite big, thus if
your computer has a small storage space
this is an impractical file size to use, or you
should consider to use a form of online
storage such as google drive.
7. GIF
Stands For Graphics Interchange Format
Used For/Example GIF’s are a complication of images that
give the illusion of video. GIF’s are
composed of frames of low quality images
in order to create an illusion of video.
Advantage GIF’s use low quality images ( only 8bit
with a limit of 256 colours per image), this
means that the size of the file will be very
low and will not take up any significant
space .
Disadvantage The quality of gifs are very low, this is due
to the fcat that the images that are used in
gifs can only be 8bit, as well they have a
limit of 256 colours
8. BMP
Stands For Bit map file
Used For/Example BMP is a widely used file format, for
example BMP’s can be used in nearly
every program from Microsoft power
point to adobe Photoshop.
Advantage The advantages of using bit map files is
that its an effective tool is you are using a
graphic input devise, this is as bitmaps are
effective at mimicking brushstrokes due to
the fact that they use pixels which create a
smooth texture.
Disadvantage If you stretch a BMP image in an type of
image editing software the image
becomes distorted due to the fcat that bit
maps do not use an effective algorithm
such as vector graphics.
10. PSD
Stands For Photoshop document
Used For/Example PSD’s are most commonly used during
digital design on adobe Photoshop this is
due to the fcat that PSD’s are very flexible
in design, this is as the file keeps the layers
that have been created during the
development of the image in Photoshop.
Advantage All of the layers that have been created are
still visible even after saving. Meaning
that there are a lot of possibilities for
customisation even after the file has been
saved.
Disadvantage The file size of PSD’s are very large,
sometimes over 10 gigabytes in size, this
means that your storage will be maxed out
rather quickly if you do not invest in extra
storage.
11. FLA
Stands For Flash
Used For/Example Flash files have a large range of uses sue to the amount
of software that utilizes that and their minimal
requirements and large availability.
Advantage One advantage of which is a huge range of software
and hardware can utilize these types of files. For
example Flash can be used in order to create assets for
video games on all platforms (console, pc and mobile)
as well Slash files use vector graphics meaning there
both upscaling images and downscaling them will not
distort the image.
Disadvantage The downside to using flash is that it is constantly
updated, this can be seen as both a positive due to the
fact that it shows that the developer is constantly
updating the program, but it also becomes frustrating
as you have to manually have to update the file to be
able to use many applications that force you to commit
this process.
12. WMF
Stands For Windows meta file
Used For/Example The widows media format was created in
the late nineties, this file format contains
both elements of vectors and bitmap.
Advantage There are not many advantages if any, to
using this file format, this is due to the fact
that to be able to use this format you have
to have a license / subscription with
Microsoft to be able to create this file
type, and secondly there are many
different file types that can be used that
are much more effective which can be
created using free software, such as Jpegs.
Disadvantage Only first party software can generally
open WMF’s, this means that there is a
very small amount of files that are
compatible, due to this limiting factor not
many files are ever used/converted into
this file type.
14. AI
Stands For Adobe illustrator
Used For/Example AI is a vector based file that is used in
adobe files, this makes this one of the
most specialist files types that are
available.
Advantage The use of vector graphics means that
there is less distortion when resizing
images. Also illustrator files are usable in
other adobe programs meaning that there
is a large amount of cross compatibility
and customization.
Disadvantage But AI files are also rather large, just like
PSD’s , this means that you will again have
to trade in quality and compatibility for a
large file size.
15. Compression
Definition Compression is the reduction of the size of
a product / item, this mean that more
items will be able to be stored in .
Advantage Compression reduces the size of a file, this
means that more items can be stored on a
USB / hard drive.
Disadvantage Compression also reduces the quality of a
file due to the fact that the file has been
reduced in size, usually every time you
compress a file the quality will continue to
deteriorate, one example of a file type that
does this are Jpegs.
16. Image Capture
Method Scanner
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
A scanner allows you to be able to take a high
quality scan of an item / image that it then
converted into a high quality digital format, this
file can then be edited in a large variety of
methods.
Method Camera
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
A camera allows you to be able to take images of items
and then convert these items into a image format,
(Jpeg / RAW) that can then be transported onto a
physical storage device ( such as a SD card ) allowing
for it to be edited though software.
Method Graphics Tablet
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
A graphics table is an external device that allows
you to be able to utilize a electronic pen device
on a touch / pressure. This allows improved
control when using editing / drawing software
on the PC
17. Optimising
Why would you optimise? Optimizing allows your images to be the
size you want at a reduction in quality.
How can you optimise? One of the most used ways in order to
optimize a file is to do it on the internet
though a website, but there are other
methods, such as through software.
Advantage to optimising Files that have not been optimized have
large file sizes, this means that more space
will be taken up on your pc’s storage as
well as the file taking longer to upload and
download. But is you are to optimize the
file it will take up less space as well as
taking a smaller amount of time to render
for editing and viewing.
Disadvantage to optimising Optimizing will reduce the size of a file,
despite the fact that this will reduce in a
19. File Size
What could affect a Working Scale
(Photoshop) document file size?
The resolution would affect the size of the
file, this is due to the fact that the higher
the resolution of the images in the file,
then the higher the file size, this is the
same as the lower the resolution the
smaller the file size.
How could you reduce the file size of a
Working Scale document without
affecting quality?
One method that you could use to be able
to reduce the file size of a working scale
document would be to delete non
essential parts of a document. Another
method is to merge layers when handling
large size file types such as PSD.
What is an advantage of scaling up images
before exporting?
Upscaling allows an image to look less
“pixilated” creating a much softer / more
visually appearing image when viewed on
high resolution displays.
What is a disadvantage of scaling up
images before exporting?
Scaling up an image before exporting
would mean that the overall quality of the
image will be reduced as a result of
“stretching” the image.
20. File Naming Conventions
What naming conventions could you use
when creating your video game assets?
When creating a video game thousands of
different assets are used for different
textures and mp3 files. If a different
specific name is used for each file then it
will become much easier to be able to
locate certain elements of the games
assets. Compare to using the default name
that is given to a file which is determined
by the first sentence in a file.
Why is it a good idea to accurately name
your assets?
It is a good idea to name your assets
correctly as it will become difficult to find
the file. For example if you need to save
various versions of a file though out of its
development you will end up with a file
having several similar names witch will
make different files hard to distinguish.
(E.G. file(1) file(2) file(3) will make the
different versions hard to find without
opening them all)
21. Asset Management
Why would you use folders when storing
your assets?
Using your folders to store your assets is
an effective method for storing
information, this is due to the fact that it
will allow you to identify a file easily.
What folders would you create and what
would you save within them
For example if I was going to create a file
for my photography an easy method of
locating this would be to create a folder in
my photos with the date that these photos
were taken or I would create a relevant
name. Thus reducing the time that it
would take me to be able to locate the file.
