A bitmap graphic is composed of pixels in various colors, so file sizes are large as every pixel must be stored. Vectors use shapes that can be edited individually; they are scalable without quality loss and have smaller file sizes than bitmaps. Bitmaps allow editing of individual pixels but have larger file sizes, while vectors can be resized without quality loss but individual pixels cannot be edited.

1. Bitmap & Vector Graphics
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A bitmap graphic is composed of many tiny parts, called pixels, which are often many different
colours. A bitmap graphic is normally created when you take a photograph or scan something like a
magazine; since the computer has to store information about every single pixel, they file sizes are
quite large.
Vectors are created in graphics packages (e.g. Adobe Illustrator) and consist of shapes called
objects; you can edit each object separately to change the size, position and colour. Vectors are
scalable so when you resize them, they do not lose quality; even if the vector graphic is quite large,
it doesn’t need a lot of computer memory, therefore the file size is often small.
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1. What is a bitmapped image?
a) An image composed of many tiny pixels, in which each individual pixel
can be edited. b) An image or graphic taken from the internet. c) An
image that can be scaled up or down with no loss of quality.
2. What is a vector image?
a) An image composed of individual pixels. b) An image or graphic taken from the
internet. c) An image composed of individual objects.
3. What is an advantage of a bitmapped image?
a) Images can be scaled up or down with no loss of quality. b) Individual pixels can be changed,
which makes very detailed editing possible. c) They have a small file size.
4. What is an advantage of a vector image?
a) Individual pixels can be changed which makes very detailed editing possible. b) Images can be
scaled up or down with no loss of quality. c) They look real.
5. What is a disadvantage of a bitmapped image?
a) They don't look as realistic as vector graphics. b) They are not as colourful. c)They have a large
file size because information has to be stored about every pixel.

2. 6. What is a disadvantage of a vector image?
a) They don't look as realistic as bitmap graphics. b) They cannot be resized. c)They have a large
file size because information has to be stored about every pixel.
7. Identify the common file formats for bitmapped images:
a) .html, .htm b) .svg, .eps, .xml c) .bmp, .jpg, .gif
8. Identify the common file formats for vector images:
a) .html, .htm b) .svg, .eps, .xml c) .bmp, .jpg, .gif
9. Which one of these would you use to create vector graphics?
a) Photoshop b) Audacity c) Illustrator
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Bitmap Graphics Vector Graphics
What are they made up of? Pixels of different colours Objects
What can be edited? Individual pixels Individual Objects
What is the file size? Large, as the computer stores
details of every pixel
Small, as the compute stores
details of objects, which do not
require much memory
What happens when they are
resized?
They lose quality They do not lose quality
How real do they look? Real Not real (many of them look like
cartoon images).
Native formats that the software
can read
.bmp .svg
Common file formats .bmp, .dib, jpeg, gif, tiff, .png .cgm, .svg, .odg, .eps, .xml