Raster Graphics
Raster graphics are images created out of bitmaps of color, making them very high quality and very big in file size. The term Bitmap refers to the way a bit of information is colored and its position x and y on the canvas, for example, computers now a days ship with 64 bits of value meaning that for every bit of memory there can be 64 more bits of information, so if multiplied the equation will give us something like 4096 bits of information and memory; enough for any graphic task. Bits also carry millions of colors of information and when put in a mapping canvas bitmaps are created, hence the term bitmap or raster. Raster images are perfect for photography since thay are excellent in quality , however they are big in size since they carry a lot of information on each individual bit.
One pro of Raster images is that thay are easy to color and represent photorealistic images , however, on the down size thay are not resizable. When resized thay become very complex and very rough, giving us the "stairs effect" when zoomed in.
Vector Graphics
Vector graphics unlike raster graphics are mathematical since birth, meaning they are based out of a mathematical formula such as x=y+z. They are not bitmapped therefore they do not carry millions of colors of information which is why they are the preffered method for web graphic such as flash and Adobe Illustrator and they are becoming the standard for images in platforms like Mac and Windows. One pro of vector graphics is that they are resizable meaning they can be zoomed in and streched in any way and they will respect their shape and not distort like raster images, also they are excellent in size. On the down side, they do not carry millions of colors which is why they are the prefferes method for the web.
Raster graphics are images created out of bitmaps of color, making them very high quality and very big in file size. The term Bitmap refers to the way a bit of information is colored and its position x and y on the canvas, for example, computers now a days ship with 64 bits of value meaning that for every bit of memory there can be 64 more bits of information, so if multiplied the equation will give us something like 4096 bits of information and memory; enough for any graphic task. Bits also carry millions of colors of information and when put in a mapping canvas bitmaps are created, hence the term bitmap or raster. Raster images are perfect for photography since thay are excellent in quality , however they are big in size since they carry a lot of information on each individual bit.
One pro of Raster images is that thay are easy to color and represent photorealistic images , however, on the down size thay are not resizable. When resized thay become very complex and very rough, giving us the "stairs effect" when zoomed in.
Vector Graphics
Vector graphics unlike raster graphics are mathematical since birth, meaning they are based out of a mathematical formula such as x=y+z. They are not bitmapped therefore they do not carry millions of colors of information which is why they are the preffered method for web graphic such as flash and Adobe Illustrator and they are becoming the standard for images in platforms like Mac and Windows. One pro of vector graphics is that they are resizable meaning they can be zoomed in and streched in any way and they will respect their shape and not distort like raster images, also they are excellent in size. On the down side, they do not carry millions of colors which is why they are the prefferes method for the web.
©2004
Kathleen Colussy