Raster graphics use pixels to form images, so file sizes are large and quality degrades with resizing. Vector graphics use mathematical formulas to define shapes, so they scale smoothly and have smaller file sizes. Common raster formats include JPEG, TIFF, GIF and BMP, which vary in features like compression, transparency and quality. Vector formats include AI, PSD and WMF. Optimizing images like reducing size and compressing makes files smaller for faster loading online, but degrades quality. Factors like layers, effects and scaling impact file sizes of programs like Photoshop. Organizing files with accurate naming and folders aids efficient asset management.

1. Digital Graphics
File Formats
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2. Raster Graphics
Raster Graphics are a type of digital graphic which uses
lots of small pixels to make a bitmap. Each pixel records
information and because a single bitmap will contain
many megapixels (14 megapixels being the equivalent
of 14,000,000 pixels) the size of the file will be quite
large. Each pixel also contains a different colour. When
resized, the bitmap graphic will become pixelated as it
has a limited number of pixels so after a while it
becomes distorted. The bitmap graphic can also
become distorted when uploaded to the internet (eg.
Facebook, etc) because the pixels will be compressed
into less megapixels therefore making the file smaller
so it will load faster.
Each individual pixel is filled by a
different colour.

3. Vector Graphics
Vectors are a type of digital graphic made from vectors and
paths. They are defined by a starting point and an ending
point with angles between them to form a shape (simple or
more advanced) which the computer will fill with a colour.
They are also scalable which means as the computer has
filled the area with colour when the graphic is resized, it
does not lose quality or definition. This makes it perfect for
companies to use vectors for logo’s as they can be used on
something as small as a letterhead on a piece of paper or
on something as large as an advertising board. The
computer will only have to save the vectors and paths so
the file size will be significantly smaller than one of a Raster
Graphic.
The computer fills the area between the
starting point and finishing point.

4. Raster Graphics

5. JPEG
Stands For Joint Photographic Experts
Used For/Example Photographs and web formats.
Advantage •They are universal meaning they can be
opened on almost anything.
•They are used for webpages such as
Facebook meaning most people have
come across them and used them before.
Disadvantage •They can lose quality with multiple edits
from compression and recompression
each time the JPEG is edited.
•They do not support transparency.
•They are not as suitable for text.

6. TIFF
Stands For Tagged Image File Format
Used For/Example It’s popular with graphic designers for
desktop publishing.
Advantage •Adobe InDesign documents saved as a
TIFF can save multi-page documents to a
single TIFF.
•They have the option to not lose quality.
•They can be opened in Photoshop.
Disadvantage •Not everything can open TIFF files.
•The file size can be quite big, larger than
JPEG mostly, as they have the option to
not compress the files.

7. GIF
Stands For Graphic Interchange Format
Used For/Example They are used for short digital animation,
usually on the internet.
Advantage •They are universal meaning they can be
opened almost anywhere.
•They have a smaller file size than videos
so, when on the internet, they will load
faster.
•They support transparency.
Disadvantage •They are usually poor quality so it would
be less likely to get used.
•It is one of the oldest image formats.

8. BMP
Stands For Bitmap Image File
Used For/Example Photography or art files.
Advantage •They are mostly universal.
•They have no loss in compression unlike a
JPEG file.
•If they have not been resized, they will
have a very good photo quality.
Disadvantage •Much like a TIFF file, they are large in file
size.
•They are not scalable so they can become
very pixelated if resized.

9. Vector Graphics

10. PSD
Stands For Photoshop Document
Used For/Example Image manipulation, and a good example
of this is Front covers of magazines.
Advantage •It can save layers, page formatting
information, swatches, etc.
•It supports transparency which is good for
designing logo’s for clothing.
Disadvantage •You need Photoshop to view them.
•They have a big file size which could easily
reach a gigabyte.
•To upload them to the web you would
have to save them as a TIFF or a JPEG
which means if you were to reopen it in
Photoshop you would have lost the layers.

11. AI
Stands For Adobe Illustrator Art
Used For/Example Used by artists and graphic designers to
design logo’s and such.
Advantage •There’s no loss in definition if the image is
resized so the image does not lose quality.
Disadvantage •They can only be viewed in Illustrator.
•The file sizes can get quite big like those
of a PSD.
•To send or upload them to the internet
they would have to be sent as a copy or
sent/saved as a JPEG like a PSD.

12. FLA
Stands For Flash File
Used For/Example Used for animation and game production.
Advantage •It produces high quality files with small
file size so it takes up less storage on the
computer, or USB stick.
•It can include sound and video.
Disadvantage •It often needs updating which can be a
problem if it is needed but can not be
used quick enough as it needs updating
before it can be used.

13. WMF
Stands For Windows Metafile
Used For/Example It is used for designing logo’s.
Advantage •You can rescale them which is good for
logo’s as companies can use them
wherever without causing the image to be
distorted.
•They contain both Vector and Bitmap
components.
Disadvantage •It’s very simple which means no complex
files can be made unlike a PSD.

14. File Format Capture
and Optimising

15. Compression
Definition Lossy compression means that when you
save an image, it will lessen the amount
of megapixels in the file.
Advantage •It makes the file smaller so it would take
up less storage than what it would if it was
not compressed.
Disadvantage •It will cause the image to become
pixelated and to look distorted which
means the image will lose quality and less
likely to be used for it’s purpose.

16. Image Capture
Method Scanner
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
If you use the scanner to scan a sketch, a
photo, or a mixed media product, and etc
it will digitalise them and transfer them
into a JPEG file on the computer.
Method Camera
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
The camera will capture a moment and
digitalise it so there is a still life of it which
can then be printed or transferred into a
JPEG file.
Method Graphics Tablet
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
A graphics tablet allows someone to draw
or write on the tablet which will transfer
through to a document on the computer
which can be saved as a number of files.

17. Optimising
Why would you optimise? By optimising an image it will give it a smaller
loading file and therefore take less time to
download which is better for images on the
internet as the webpage will load faster.
How can you optimise? You can optimise a lot of ways. For example, you
can reduce the image size or compress the
image. You can also reduce the bit depth or
reduce the resolution (the amount of pixels in
the image.)
Advantage to optimising •Images on the internet are optimised for easy viewing
as they load faster due to the small loading file.
•Images uploaded to social media are optimised
automatically so they will load faster and people are
not sat waiting for images and videos to load for a long
period of time.
Disadvantage to optimising •By optimising images, they are losing quality as
they are being compressed.
•They are also losing quality by being resized
which could make them become pixelated and
distorted.

18. Storage

19. File Size
What could affect a Working Scale
(Photoshop) document file size?
The amount of layers and effects you have
on your PSD will affect the file size greatly
as the more you have, the bigger the file
size will be.
How could you reduce the file size of a
Working Scale document without
affecting quality?
One thing you could do is group multiple layers
together so they make one layer rather than a few.
Another thing you could is making sure you only keep
essential parts of the image like for example, if you
were rota scoping over an image, that when you are
finished, you should delete the original image to
reduce file space. You could also rasterize some
aspects of the PSD.
What is an advantage of scaling up images
before exporting?
Scaling up the image in raster graphics will
produce a less pixelated and more of a
softer image.
What is a disadvantage of scaling up
images before exporting?
It will greatly increase the fie size of the
document.

20. File Naming Conventions
What naming conventions could you use
when creating your assets?
• You would name each file with a name
relevant to their purpose so each file is
recognisable and can be distinguished
from one and other.
• You would also name each layer in a
PSD (for example, Hair, nose, eyes, etc,)
so you know which layer is the right
layer.
Why is it a good idea to accurately name
your assets?
So you know which specific assets are
which straight away without having to
check each of them until you find the one
you are looking for.

21. Asset Management
Why would you use folders when storing
your assets?
To keep all your assets organised so you
can assess the one you need quicker
instead of scrolling through many different
files searching for the one you need.
What folders would you create and what
would you save within them
• ‘Personal photos’ where you would
keep your photographs from your
holiday or a day out, etc.
• ‘College’ where you would keep all your
files for your college work.
• ‘Photoshop’ where you would keep all
your PSD files.
• ‘Admin’ where you could keep all your
financial documents.