Digital Graphics

File Formats
Sydney Pooleman

Raster Graphics
Raster graphics (also known as
Bitmap Graphics) are a collection of
pixels, set to the same size. When
resizing the number of pixels doesn't
change and so the image loses
quality, the size of a raster file is
often quite large. The image is split
into many pixels each recording a
different colour the more pixels in an
image the more detail shown.

Vector Graphics
Vector graphics are two fixed points
A and B with curves, points and
angles between them, that can be
manipulated to create a shape and
object. Not being fixed means that
size can be changed and adjusted
with out any loss of definition. Unlike
Raster graphics, the use of vectors
means that there are no set pixels.

Raster Graphics

JPEG
Stands For
Used For/Example

Joint Photographic Experts Group

Mainly for photos and website
formats, as this is a universal
image format

Advantage

The main advantage to using JPEG

is that it can be used by any
software so images can be viewed
on any devise, and can be sent
and shared by every software.

Disadvantage

The downsides to JPEG is that the

image begins to lose quality after
multiple edits as the image is
compressed and recompressed
each time, this means pixels are
lost each time.

TIFF
Stands For

Tagged Image File Format

Used For/Example

TIFF is a format most commonly

used for desktop publishing, 3D
imaging and faxing

Advantage

The upside of using TIFF is that

documents can use multiple
pages per file. As well as not
losing quality as the file is
compressed and uncompressed,
even after multiple uses.

Disadvantage

The biggest disadvantage of using

Tiff is that the files get larger with
each layer and page. A lot of
space is used for each file and this
can become troublesome.

GIF
Stands For

Graphic Interchange Format

Used For/Example

GIFs are mostly internet used

short videos played on loop, and
are used to show the video as fast
as possible

Advantage

Overall GIFFs only consist of small

files that are mainly just a short
series of images, the image
sequence plays an a continuous
loop.

Disadvantage

Mainly all GIFFs are very low in

quality as they are only a few
seconds long before the loop
starts again. They also have bad
colour depth and will be quite
pixalated.

BMP
Stands For

Bitmap Image File

Used For/Example

BMP is a lot like TIFF and JPEG in

that it sets images into a standard
Image format.

Advantage

The advantages of this setup is

that the images information in
each pixel, doesnt get lost during
compression and recompression.
This means that details remain in
the image.

Disadvantage

The big downside is that BMP files

are large in size. However another
downside is that once in this
format pixels are set, so this
means stretching can cause
pixilation to the image.

Vector Graphics

PSD
Stands For
Used For/Example

PhotoShop Document
Photoshop is used to manipulate
an image and add texts and
design top work and images.

Advantage

When working on a Photoshop

document the work is split into
layers, meaning you can work on
one thing without interrupting any
of the other layers. Documents
can also saves the page format,
colour swatches and image
transparency.

Disadvantage

The downside to Photoshop over

software like TIFF is that it only
creates one page at a time. Also
as the number of layers increases
so does the space that the
document takes up.

AI
Stands For
Used For/Example

Adobe Illustrator Art

This is used to create logos using
free hand drawing.

Advantage

As this format uses vector

graphics the images can be scaled
bigger or smaller without loss to
the quality or detail in the image.

Disadvantage

The files allow for free hand but

using a mouse can cause issues
when getting precision. The other
downside is that the files are not
universal meaning you need to
have the software to view and edit
the image.

FLA
Stands For
Used For/Example

Flashfile
FLA is used to create animations
and games.

Advantage

Flash file lets sounds to be added

to videos and also lets high
quality images to be used. The file
size is also very small but high in
quality.

Disadvantage

The downside is that animations

that are to long and lager, can
become jumpy and a lower fluidity
form cell to cell.

WMF
Stands For
Used For/Example

Advantage

Disadvantage

Windows Metafiles
These are like AL, as they are
used for logo design but more
commonly clip art.
WMF can contain bitmaps,
however vectors are more
common. The vector files mean
that definition is not lost when
rescaling the image.
This format is unprofessional and
can have a unrealistic effect on
the look of the final piece, this
leads to messy clipart.

File Format
Capture and
Optimising

Compression
Definition

Files are reduced to save the

amount of space used each time.
This is done by reducing the
information that is saved each
time.

Advantage

This proses gets red of any

useless data from the file and
gives room for needed data to be
stored. You can also give a les
perfect images that are still good,
this can be used on websites so
people cant take the image.

Disadvantage

Higher levels of compression

make the image over pixelated
and reduce to over all quality that
the image has, meaning it is clear
what it is but it has no detales.

Image Capture
Method

Scanner

How is it used for image

capture of graphics

Physical images, like drawings and

paintings, can be scanned in and
digitalised . This is more efficient
that a photo of the work

Method

Camera

How is it used for image

capture of graphics

Captures colour in pixel form to

create a complete image or video.
This is then digitalised and this
can be used on computers,
phones, etc
Graphics Tablet

Method
How is it used for image
capture of graphics

Allows you to free hand draw

images and write, the pen like
mouse gives better control to the
user.

Optimising
Why would you optimise?

The reason you would optimise is

so that you can upload images to
the internet without any
challenges.

How can you optimise?

In Photoshop there is a image

size setting and you can use this
to optimise images this way. This
will make the image at most 500
pixels which is the most used
when optimising.

Advantage to optimising

Optimising allows for easy viewing

from the internet, with out it the
files would have to much data and
take a long time to download.

Disadvantage to optimising

When optimising the size of the

file effects the time it takes to
optimise, larger files take longer
to change.

Storage

File Size
What could affect a Working
Scale (Photoshop) document
file size?

the number of layers that the

document has can mean that the
size of the document becomes
larger.

How could you reduce the file

size of a Working Scale
document without affecting
quality?

Reducing file size can involve

using vector graphics and
unnecessary layers or excess
data.

What is an advantage of
scaling up images before
exporting?

By scaling the image is given a

constant quality in vectors, and a
bigger resolution, while creating a
larger image.

What is a disadvantage of
scaling up images before
exporting?

The disadvantages are that there

is a lower quality and a bigger file,
and take longer to upload.

File Naming Conventions

What naming conventions
could you use when creating
your video game assets?

When doing naming conventions it

is best to use a short name that
doesnt have or use spaces.
Instead of spaces use the
underscore, you need to add
dates to each file.

Why is it a good idea to

accurately name your assets?

Naming allows for finding a set file

easy, because all unnamed files
mean that you have the task of
finding the one you want, by
opening and closing the
documents and files to find what
you are looking for.

Asset Management
Why would you use folders
when storing your assets?

Folders allow you to find work

easy and also allow for separation
of different work, by subject or
project.

What folders would you create Media- (contains all my course

and what would you save
work)
within them
Digital graphic narrative- (all
work on this subject)
Development proforma
PhotoShop-( contains all my
photoshoped work on the
subject)
Phots- (all collected images are
store here)