ALCAPARAZ, Rocelle D.

BAC 3104-2
BAC III-2 Mr. Alfredo G. Gabot
Assignment #1: Digital Imaging

What is digital imaging?

Digital imaging is the process of creating a representation of an object’s visual
characteristics through the use of a camera, scanner, design software (e.g. Photoshop), or other
imaging devices. These images are digitized, meaning it has been changed into a sequence of
numbers, called pixels, that computers process (Peterson, 2011). To digitized an image, each
pixel is recorded as a number by an imaging device that describes some property of this pixel,
such as its brightness or its color. The numbers are organized in rows and columns that
correspond to the vertical and horizontal positions of the pixels in an image (Digital images,
2021). Processing digital image has a wide array of applications and almost all fields, such as in
the media, are impacted by it (Applications and usage, 2021)..

Why do we study digital imaging?

Digital imaging is vital to study as it greatly contributes to our society. Through the
digitalization of images, it preserves events, objects, and other visual representations. It has the
ability to be transferred electronically from one medium to another, such as from a web page to
a computer screen to a printer. Furthermore, digital imaging paves the way to cater to one’s
needs, such as changing a look of an image. Several programs give a user the ability to
manipulate a visual, such as Photoshop, where a user can change or enhance the colors,
delete unwanted visible objects, move something, and merge objects. In other software, such as
word processors, users can easily merge digital images with text to produce books or
magazines, producing visually pleasing mass consumption (Digital images, 2021).

Examples of digital formats in communication

According to the Administration for Children & Families (2021), all digital image formats
fall into one of the two categories: vector or raster.
Vector
Vector files are made up of lines, curves, and shapes instead of pixels. Due to that, each
part is editable and can be resized easily (How do digital images work?, 2019).vectors are great
for making digital illustrations such as logos. Common vector file extensions are: SVG (web-
based vector format). EPS (Adobe-based vector format), and EMF (Microsoft Office-based
vector format).

Raster
Raster files are perfect for complex images such as photographs and are widely
compatible file formats. These consist of pixels that are arranged in a grid formation to represent
an image (“Raster graphics | computer science | Britannica,” 2021). Unlike vectors, when
enlarged, these lose detail and become increasingly blurry.
Common raster file extensions are:
JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
● Compressed raster format
● Universal file format
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
● Good for illustrations or icons
● Supports transparency
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
● Best for high-resolution printing
● Great for professional print use
● Large file size
References
Administration for Children & Families. (2021). The two types of digital images: vector and

raster. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/digital-toolbox/visuals/images/two-types-digital-images-

vector-and-raster

Applications and usage. (2021). Tutorialspoint.com.

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/dip/applications_and_usage.htm

Digital images. (2021). Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/computing/news-

wires-white-papers-and-books/digital-images

How do digital images work? (2019). BBC Bitesize; BBC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zf2f9j6/articles/z2tgr82

Peterson, E. (2011). What is Digital Imaging? (with pictures). Info Bloom.

https://www.infobloom.com/what-is-digital-imaging.htm

Raster graphics | computer science | Britannica. (2021). In Encyclopædia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/technology/raster-graphics