P2 - Different Graphic Formats

Introduction
In this report I will be discussing the different types of graphic formats and how it relates to
file formats. I will be giving brief explanations on the most recognised graphics: Bitmap and
Vector, and make a comparison of both.

Bitmap Graphics
Bitmap graphics are graphics that use millions of pixels that can change in several ways.
These kinds of graphics are usually used when using photographs because of how easy they
are to edit. For example with a picture of a dress you may take one photo of one coloured
dress yet preview it in any colour you desire.
Bitmap Graphics images can also be saved in quite a few files formats such as:

Jpeg
Tiff/BMP
png
Gif

Vector Graphics
Vector graphics is the use of points, lines and curves that are all represent images in
computer graphics. These images are seen as the most appropriate graphics to use when for
example designing Logos for businesses, this is because they allow pictures to be resized
without making the image lose its quality.
Vectors Images can come in a selection of different file formats such as:

CGM
SVG
EPS

Most vector graphics formats are just about the same file sizes because they never really
gain or lose quality because of the file formats. Due to this, it doesn't generally matter
which file format you save a vector image as, except if you only want to open it with specific
software, for instance.

Bitmap Vs Vector
Unlike vector graphics Bitmap graphics are quite dependent upon the file formats it is saved
in. Different file formats can make or break an image. For example When a Bitmap image is
saved in a file formats that require a small amount of memory, the images can sometimes
lose its quality in ways such as losing colours in certain pixels and blurriness. On the other
hand, when zooming in to a vector picture, you could zoom in as much as you can and not
notice any change in the quality of the image. But on a Bitmap picture, it wouldnt be the
same case.
Bitmap files tend to be a lot larger than vector. This is because of all the different coloured
pixels bit map has. Vector files tend to be a lot smaller because they use mathematical
equations as an alternative, than use pixels, so this makes the file size for vector a lot
smaller than Bitmap.

Using bitmap files you are not able to zoom right into an image and still be able to see the
image. This is because when you zoom in to the picture, it shows all the colour pixels within
the image but when you zoom into a vector file they stay the identical and doesnt drop its
quality level. These are commonly used in logos such as the Pepsi logo because it provides
them with a better image.

File Formats
File Format

Bitmap or Vector

Description

Size

.jpg

Bitmap

4gigapixels

.gif

Bitmap

.tiff

Bitmap

.png

Bitmap

.bmp

Bitmap

.eps

Vector

.ai

Vector

.cgm

Vector

Joint Photographic Experts Group

is a Lossy Compression for digital
images.
Graphic Interchange Format (.gif)
mainly used to save picture from
the Internet and to save and use
animations.
Tagged Image File Format is a
computer file format used to store
achieved pictures and scanned
images on the computer.
Portable Network Graphics is the
improved version of GIF and the
most used Lossless Compression
Image on the Internet.
This is a Bitmap image file used to
store bitmap digital images.
Encapsulated PostScripts is used in
vector-based images, which can
also store contain text and graphics
Adobe illustrator (.ai) is a Vector
file extensions made by adobe
systems to save vector-based
drawings in either EPS or PDF
formats.
Computer Graphics Metafile is
open and free international
standard file format for 2D vector
graphics and texts

8Bits Per Pixel

16Bits Per Pixel

8Bits Per Pixel

14bytes
660 Kb

40MB

2-4bits Per Pixel

Lossless Compression is data compression that allows the original data to be

perfectly reconstructed
Lossy Compression is data encoding, which has methods that uses partial data
discarding to show content.

Sources:

http://vectormagic.com/support/file_formats
http://www.teachict.com/as_a2_ict_new/ocr/AS_G061/316_present_communicate_data/bi
tmaps_vectors/miniweb/pg3.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG
http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileformat/JPG-JPEG-bitmap
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/imagetypes.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossless_compression
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossy_compression
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMP_file_format
http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileformat/EPS-Encapsulated-Postscript-Vector-graphicsAdobe-Illustrator
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Graphics_Metafile