This document provides information on various topics related to digital images and design software. It discusses the differences between raster and vector images, describes anti-aliasing and its purpose, and covers concepts like resolution, aspect ratio, and file formats. Color models like RGB and CMYK are explained as well as design programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Sources are provided for further reading on each topic.

1. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Adam Foster

2. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Raster and Vector Images
Raster Images
Raster images are a bunch of dots called pixels, each pixel is a small coloured
square. When an image is scanned, the image is converted to a collection of
pixels called a raster image. Scanned graphics and web graphics (JPEG and
GIF files) are the most common forms of raster images. The resolution of a
raster image or scanned image is expressed in terms of the dots per inch or dpi.
A printer or scanner's resolution is also measured in dots per inch.
This is an example of
a raster image.

3. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Raster and Vector Images
Vector Images
A vector image is a collection of connected lines and curves that produce objects.
When creating a vector image in a vector illustration program, node or drawing
points are inserted and lines and curves connect notes together. This is the same
principle as "connect the dots". Each node, line and curve is defined in the
drawing by the graphics software by a mathematical description. Every aspect of a
vector object is defined by math included node position, node location, line length
and on down the line. Text objects are created by connecting nodes, lines and
curves. Every letter in a font starts out as a vector object. Vector images are
object-oriented while raster images are pixel oriented. A vector object will have a
"wireframe" underneath the colors in the object. In a vector object, colors are like
clothes over the top of a skeleton. CorelDRAW and Illustrator create text and
objects using vectors that can be easily manipulated.
This is an example of a
vector image, the quality has
much improved over the
raster image version of this.

4. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Anti-aliasing
Anti-Aliasing is a method of fooling the eye that a jagged edge is really smooth.
Anti-Aliasing is often referred in games and on graphics cards. In games
especially the chance to smooth edges of the images goes a long way to creating
a realistic 3D image on the screen. Remember though that Anti-Aliasing does not
actually smooth any edges of images it merely fools the eye. Like a lot of things
they are only designed to be good enough. If you can't tell the difference then
that's fine.
The letter on the left is a blown up letter a with
no anti-aliasing. The letter on the right has had
anti-aliasing applied to it. In this blown up form The letter A on
it looks like its simply blurred but if we reduce the right with the
the size down to a more standard size you may size reduced.
see the difference.

5. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Resolution
Image resolution describes the detail an image holds. The term applies to raster
digital images, film images, and other types of images. Higher resolution means
more image detail. Image resolution can be measured in various ways. Basically,
resolution quantifies how close lines can be to each other and still be visibly
resolved. Resolution units can be tied to physical sizes (e.g. lines per mm, lines
per inch), to the overall size of a picture (lines per picture height, also known
simply as lines, or TV lines), or to angular subtenant. Line pairs are often used
instead of lines; a line pair comprises a dark line and an adjacent light line. A Line
(or TV line, TVL) is either a dark line or a light line. A resolution of 10 lines per
millimetre means 5 dark lines alternating with 5 light lines, or 5 line pairs per
millimetre (5 LP/mm). Photographic lens and film resolution are most often quoted
in line pairs per millimetre.
Above is an illustration of how the same image might appear at different pixel
resolutions, if the pixels were poorly rendered as sharp squares (normally, a smooth
image reconstruction from pixels would be preferred, but for illustration of pixels, the
sharp squares make the point better).

6. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio of an image is a number to represent it’s width by its height
e.g 4:3. this number would mean the width is larger than the height
meaning it would be a longer image rather than a taller one.
These are both aspect ratios.

7. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – File Formats
File formats are things added to the end of a file name so we can see what type of file it is and what it can be used on.
These are things such as .doc which tells us it’s a word document and can be used on microsoft words and other word
processors. File types include:
Gif – Graphics Interchange Format: an animated image, used on something such as windows movie maker. Compresses
files for smaller file sizes and faster downloads. Best for images with solid colours or areas of uniform colour such as
illustrations and logos.
Jpeg - Photographic Experts Group: standard image file, can be used on almost anything which uses images. Takes
advantage of the full spectrum of colours on your monitor. Also uses compression for smaller file sizes and faster
downloads however unlike with a GIF file, compression discards data in the process.
Tiff – Tagged Image File Format: Used for bitmaps only, The TIFF format is supported by more or less all graphics
applications.
Eps - Encapsulated PostScript: A file format used for both vector graphics and bitmaps. Contains a PostScript description
of the graphic data within them. EPS files are unique in that you can use them for vector graphics, bitmap images, type or
even entire pages.
PSD: files that are used on photoshop and is usual file type of an unfinished photoshop image that can be opened and
edited straight away.
PDF: an internet format used for electronic distribution because it maintains the look of the document and keeps the fonts,
colours etc. Some of its advantages include: they are platform independent - they work with both Mac® and PC computers,
the software used to read and print them is free and they contain PostScript® data and can be imported into both image
editors and illustration programs just like EPS files.

8. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Colour Models
A colour model is an orderly system for creating a whole range of colours from a small set of primary colours. There are
two types of colour models, those that are subtractive and those that are additive. Additive colour models use light to
display colour while subtractive models use printing inks. Colours perceived in additive models are the result of
transmitted light. Colours perceived in subtractive models are the result of reflected light. The two main types of colour
models are RGB and CMYK.
RGB Colour Model CMYK Colour Model
RGB Colour Models are
used for things you see
on a screen where
CMYK is used for ink for
print.
Additive colour model Subtractive colour model
For computer displays For printed material
Uses light to display colour Uses ink to display colour
Colours result from Colours result from reflected
transmitted light light
Red+Green+Blue=White Cyan+Magenta+Yellow=Blac
k

9. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is an adobe software used for image manipulation and
editing and is one of the best software's for that job. It has endless features
on it for editing images such as filters to change the way images look, clone
tool to remove things from images and make it look like it never was
removed and other features. It is often used to make celebrities look more
attractive on magazines and adverts to make it more appealing to the
audience.

10. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is an Adobe software used mainly for the creation of images but
can also has a few features for editing images. It allows you to create images
neatly and in detail with its many features. Features include being able to create
many shapes to your preference, advanced pen tools, advanced text tools and
more.

11. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is an adobe software used to create newspapers, flyers,
posters, magazines and more. It has the features to create documents in the
layout of newspapers, magazines etc and has many different text features as
well which can be used to make the document look accurately like what it’s
meant to look like.

12. Sources
Raster and Vector Images:
http://www.signindustry.com/computers/articles/2004-11-30-
DASvector_v_raster.php3
Anti-Aliasing:
http://www.pantherproducts.co.uk/Articles/Graphics/anti_aliasing.shtml
Resolution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_resolution
Aspect Ratio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_(image)
File Formats:
http://www.prepressure.com/library/file-formats/eps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagged_Image_File_Format
http://www.basictemplates.com/psd.shtml
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Hl1/Help/DG_10014666
Colour Models: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_model
Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator: own knowledge
Adobe InDesign: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_InDesign