Jake Alexander

File Formats

Raster Files:
Another name for a raster file is a Bitmap. A bit map is made
up of smaller bits known as pixels. A bit map is normally used to
create realistic graphics and images; they use pixels to create a
larger image. When zooming in on a raster file you can see the
pixels that form the image. It is one of the most common file
formats used.
An application that uses raster files is Adobe Photoshop; as
Photoshop is used to design graphics and images that look realistic.

Vector Files:
Unlike raster files, vectors arent made up of pixels. Vectors
are made up from polygons, line equations and calculations to
create smooth lines on a 2D computer image. Vectors are good to
create smooth images or text before converting it into a raster file.
This makes the image more precise than a Bitmap as the pixels
arent stretched. When you zoom in on a vector file, you will see
that there is no pixels that form and the image stays clear and
smooth until it is converted into a raster file.
An application that uses vectors is Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator is
used to also design graphics, art or images but to make the layout
of the whole image smoother, neater and precise.

Metafile:
A Metafile is a piece of graphical information stored in a format that
can be exchanged between different softwares and systems. This
means that a metafile stores data from graphics file formats such as
Vectors and Rasters. A common use for this would be to support
operating systems with its computers graphics, such as Windows
and MAC.

Photoshop And Illustrator:

Photoshop and Illustrator are both adobe application products
and apart of the creative suite. Adobe has a range of programs for
making videos, special effects, graphics, art, etc.
Photoshop is mainly used with images to create new photos or edit
them, and are made up of many pixels from which the image is
made of.
Illustrator is used for graphics, creating and drawing them as it gives
the user better outcomes than what Photoshop would. Vectors in
illustrator work will polygons rather than pixels to give the image a
good design. Once work is done in Illustrator, is can be rasterised
(converted into a bitmap) and edited in Photoshop.
In illustrator, a line is composed of two dots connected by a
computer algorithm, whereas a line in Photoshop is just a line of
Pixels. Illustrator is better for creating such things like logos that
may have to be stretched to get the right proportions or layout.
Jake Alexander