The document discusses different file formats used in digital graphics including raster graphics, vector graphics, and specific file types like JPEG, TIFF, GIF, BMP, PSD, AI, FLA, and WMF. It covers topics such as the advantages and disadvantages of different formats, optimizing files for web use, and managing assets through naming conventions and folder organization.

1. Digital Graphics
File Formats
Natalie Lynch

2. Raster Graphics
• Raster Graphics are made up of bitmaps.
Bitmaps are are made up of pixels and have a
fixed resolution (for example, Photoshop
documents use 300dpi). This causes raster
graphics to become distorted if resized,
especially on a larger scale.

3. Vector Graphics
• Vector Graphics are made up of vectors, which
are also known as paths or strokes. These
can’t be distorted when resizing as they have
a start and end point, with curves, points and
angles in between them. Because of this,
vector graphics are perfect for company logos
as they can be used on business cards but can
also be stretched big enough to fit a billboard
without losing quality.

4. Raster Graphics

5. JPEG
Stands For Joint Photographic Experts Group
Used For/Example JPEGs are generally used for photographs
and web formats. It is the most used
image format on digital cameras.
Advantage JPEGs are able to store and transfer the
full colour information of images. These
files are compatible across most, if not all
platforms; including PC and Mac.
Disadvantage Despite being one of the most used file
types, JPEGs lose quality with every edit
that is made and are not as suitable for
working with text.

6. TIFF
Stands For Tagged Image File Format
Used For/Example Good for desktop publishing as well as
many aspects of graphic design.
Advantage This particular file type allows for multiple
pages in just one file when used through
Adobe InDesign. These files also don’t lose
any quality if the option of lossless
compression is chosen.
Disadvantage Not all websites support this file type
which makes it more difficult to use. Also,
these file types have large sizes, making
the transfer process slow.

7. GIF
Stands For Graphics Interchange Format
Used For/Example This file type is used for creating short
digital animations. They’re used a lot on
social media eg Twitter & Facebook.
Advantage GIFs are able to support transparent
backgrounds and they can show and
enhance more emotion/movement than a
regular, still image can.
Disadvantage There’s no way of editing a GIF after being
saved initially so any mistakes mean it’ll
have to be created from scratch again.
They’re usually low quality and look more
pixelated so are not always the preferred
file type.

8. BMP
Stands For Bitmap Image File
Used For/Example This is a bitmap image file used to store
bitmap digital images. Can range from
black and white to 24 bit colour.
Advantage This file type is similar to JPEG and TIFF but
there’s no loss of quality when edited,
unlike JPEG files. It is also supported and
compatible on every device, making it very
easy to transfer between people.
Disadvantage This includes large file sizes which again
makes transferring slower as it’ll take a
long time or take up a lot of storage.

9. Vector Graphics

10. PSD
Stands For Photoshop Document
Used For/Example Used for photo image manipulation. An
example is how it’s used for creating
magazine front covers.
Advantage A Photoshop document enables you to
save layers as well as supporting
transparency so you can create anything
against a blank background.
Disadvantage It takes up a lot of storage as it uses no
compression as well as not allowing for
multiple pages to be saved, meaning even
more storage space is used up. Not many
other programmes allow you to open
Photoshop documents which makes it
difficult to share.

11. AI
Stands For Adobe Illustrator
Used For/Example Used for logo creation and graphics
(something that can represent a
company).
Advantage The logo/graphic can be scaled as small or
large as is wanted as there’s no loss in
definition (example of a vector graphic).
There’s also small file sizes so it is easy for
sharing and transferring.
Disadvantage It is a very realistic process and outcome
so user must be patient in order to get it
exactly how they want. There’s also
limitations on where the files can be
viewed.

12. FLA
Stands For Flash File
Used For/Example Flash Files are used to create animations
as well as games.
Advantage These file types can include video and
audio – broadening what you can actually
do and include. They are of high quality
and they also have a small file size which
means they wont take too long to load
when viewed online.
Disadvantage Flash files are specialist so not many
programmes allow the viewing and
opening of them.

13. WMF
Stands For Windows Metafile
Used For/Example Similar to AI files – can also create logos
and graphics but focus more on Clip Art.
Advantage This file type can be scaled both big and
small again as there’s no loss in definition
when resizing however these file formats
can contain both vector and bitmap
components.
Disadvantage It is only available on windows software
making it difficult for sharing and viewing
elsewhere.

14. File Format Capture
and Optimising

15. Compression
Definition Lossy compression is how the file size is
made to be smaller. This is done by
reducing the amount of information that
is saved within the file.
Advantage Compression is very useful as it makes the
file size a lot smaller as well as the amount
of storage that is required. This enables it
to be a lot easier to share and transfer files
as the process of this will be a lot faster
than the original file.
Disadvantage Every time a file is compressed, it loses a
lot of quality as it saves less pixels, causing
the file to become more an more pixelated
and therefore less clear.

16. Image Capture
Method Scanner
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
This allows the user to scan physical images into a
computer document such as Photoshop. It enables the
person to create things in the form of sketches or
digital images that are more realistic and really specific
to how they want it and then edit in a programme.
Method Camera
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
Allows you to take photo of a specific thing to
be used in your work. Angles, composition and
lighting will all be taken into consideration
during this process in order to get the best
possible outcome.
Method Graphics Tablet
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
Allows you to control the mouse like a pen and
create visual things such as drawings or
handwriting. It also gives the user more control
over what they’re creating.

17. Optimising
Why would you optimise? You would optimise a file in order to make
it easier to view on the web. For example,
a larger file size takes longer to download
so it can then be viewed.
How can you optimise? Most formats optimise by taking away part
of the information in the image or file. You
optimise by reducing the file size.
Advantage to optimising Smaller file sizes mean easier, as well as
quicker viewing and sharing online. There
won’t be as long to wait to download files.
Disadvantage to optimising The image will be more pixelated and less
clear as it’ll have a smaller file size (losing
quality).

18. Storage

19. File Size
What could affect a Working Scale
(Photoshop) document file size?
Things such as image layers and shapes
within the file may affect its size. Another
thing that may affect it is how much
editing has been done as this means it’ll
need to save more information.
How could you reduce the file size of a
Working Scale document without
affecting quality?
By reducing the bit depth of the image.
What is an advantage of scaling up images
before exporting?
If saved a JPEG, this will make the file a lot
easier to view and share.
What is a disadvantage of scaling up
images before exporting?
Scaling up images may cause things such
as distortion or result in the image
becoming pixelated. If saved as a JPEG this
sometimes can’t be altered.

20. File Naming Conventions
What naming conventions could you use
when creating your video game assets?
When creating video game assets such as
the characters, naming conventions
should be used in order to be organised
and know where everything is. An
example is naming the different
characters and then labelling each file
with things such as the character name
and then front, back and side.
Why is it a good idea to accurately name
your assets?
It’s a good idea to name assets accurately
as you’ll be able to find them a lot quicker
and are less likely to mistake them with a
file you don’t actually need if you come to
deleting it. Also if you name it the same as
something else you have the risk of losing
one of the files when it chooses to replace
it.

21. Asset Management
Why would you use folders when storing
your assets?
You use folders in order to know where
everything exactly is. With certain things
(eg video games), there may be a large
number of assets and parts to it so folders
come in handy when sectioning things in
order to find them easily.
What folders would you create and what
would you save within them
I would create different folders for sub-
topics within the main topic. Each one
will contain things relating to each
different aspect of the topic. I would do
this so everything is separate and
easier to find and the file sizes will be
smaller if you’re just wanting to transfer
one particular sub folder.