This document discusses the differences between bitmap and vector images. Bitmaps are made up of pixels that become more noticeable when zoomed in, while vectors use mathematical formulas to calculate line and shape positioning independently of resolution. Bitmaps lose quality when resized, as pixels must be added or removed, while vectors can be scaled without loss of quality. Neither format is inherently better - bitmaps are well-suited for realistic digital art using varied colors and lines, while vectors work well for logos and clip art that need resizing. The appropriate format depends on the intended use and goals of the image.

1. Here are some examples of pixel art created by myself. You can see the
ridged edges where the individual pixels line the edge of the picture.
A good example of how vector art is used
commercially is in grand theft auto. The vector art
style is often used in their productions.
For example, take a look at this bitmap
picture I drew, and what happens when I
zoom into a section of it.
When zooming into a bitmap image, you will
notice that pixels eventually become larger and
more noticeable. The pixilated appearance of
images is not always a bad thing though, as there
is a type of art known as ‘pixel art’ in which
(usually) small pictures or icons are created
purposefully so that the squares are visible at
100% view. This is just a technique with often
gives some very appealing and sometimes retro
results. It is originally derived from the time
when the first 2D games could only handle a
couple of pixels as the resolution of the screen
was so low. Although we have moved on from
this, pixel art is still very popular.
Bitmap and vector are two ways in which images are displayed on a computer screen. It’s a an important concept in graphics and
digital art so it’s important to understand the differences- the benefits and downsides of each, the impact using one over the other will have on
the final outcome, as well as the programs required to create them.
A bitmap (or raster image) is made up of lots of tiny squares known as pixels. When zoomed out a reasonable distance, these pixels
merge together so that to the human eye, we see a nice, sharp visual. This of course depends on the amount of pixels within said image, but
presuming there is a reasonable resolution, we usually do not see these individual pixels.
The problem with bitmaps is that they cannot be skewed, scaled or otherwise mutate in such a way. Doing so would alter the original
placement of the pixels;
When resizing a bitmap image, the computer either has to make up for lost pixels (in the case of scaling down), or guess where pixels
might be and add them in (in the case of scaling up). The computer goes through a complicated mathematical calculation to get the best results
it can, but unfortunately it will always end up ultimately losing quality, and there is simply no way around this with bitmap images. Therefore,
when creating bitmap art for commercial use, it is important to consider canvas size as this cannot be changed later and may be important (ie,
if it is to be printed as an A3 poster, it must be created with a resolution to match, else risk losing important quality).
Vector images use a different mathematical formula to calculate the positioning of colours and lines. It isn’t necessary to get into the
complicated stuff, but it’s important to realize the most essential concept of vector; vectors may be scaled and skewed and they will still retain
quality. Unlike bitmaps, vectors aren’t made up of particular pixels- they are made up of lines and shapes which correspond to a particular
part of the grid. The computer collects this information and transforms it as necessary. This might seem like it solves all the problems with
bitmap and it does in some senses- it’s very useful if you want to use your picture in many sizes without having to redraw it. However vector
simply does not allow (or makes it very difficult) to get the same effect as with bitmap. Vector images often look very cartoony and uniform,
often using cell shading, and this is generally what their best use it for. Of course, hyper realistic images can be made with vector but they take
one hell of a lot of time, skill and effort.
In conclusion, there really isn’t one better than the other; Vector is best when you want clean, pictures which can be resized (Often used for
clipart and logos), while bitmap is very good for creating more realistic digital art where a wide variety of colours and line quality is required).
Which one is best therefore depends entirely on the situation. However with a good understanding of the differences between the two types of
digital visualization, it shouldn’t be difficult to decide which is appropriate.
Bitmap editing software:
Gimp
Photoshop
Pain tool sai
MS Paint
Corel Photo-paint
Vector editing software:
Illustrator
Corel draw
Inkscape
Fireworks
Easycopy
Vector formats include:.
ai, cdr, eps, .ps, .svg, .graffle
Bitmap formats
include:.png, .gif, .jpg, .tif,
.thm, .psd