File Formats

Raster

A raster image is made up of a grid of pixels, commonly known as a

Bitmap. The larger the image is, the more pixels there will be and the
more memory the picture will take up on a disk. Pictures taken with a
digital camera, for example, are Raster images. Raster images can
usually be scaled down with no noticeable loss of quality, but if a raster
image is enlarged, each individual pixel is manipulated and contorted,
which can result in a significant loss of quality to the image and can make
the picture seem blurry.
Raster images have two different methods of file compression. Lossy
and Lossless. Firstly, Lossy compression is a technique in which an
original image is stored using approximate calculations, which results in
partial data discarding. When images are lossy compressed, the images
reduce in memory size, which is an advantage as it uses less disk space.
However, it also suffers from a reduction in
quality in the final image.

Vector

In contrast to a raster, Vector images are made up of different basic

shapes, points, lines and curves. The shapes are expressed as a
mathematical equation which allows a vector image to be scaled up or
down without any loss of quality. Vector images are commonly used for
company logos and general print work such as brochures and posters.
This is because the image needs to be different sizes for different material
and products without the image losing any quality.
Vector images are formed from various shapes
developed in computer graphics applications, and
can look cartoony. The shapes used to make vector
graphics are known as objects. An objects size,
position, colour and shape can be edited individually
to suit the needs of the designer. Unlike Raster,
Vector images can be scaled up or down in size and
not lose any quality. This is because in raster images,
when increased in size, each separate pixel is
manipulated, making the image lose quality and seem blurry.
Metafiles

A metafile is a file containing information that describes or specifies

another file.
Examples of metafiles can be found quite easily as they are common for
day- to day computer use. Microsoft uses this term for its Windows
Metafile (WMF) format. A WMF file contains a sequence of graphical-
device-interface (GDI) function calls ("commands" to the Windows
operating system) that results in the presentation of a graphic image.
Some of the function calls are equivalent to vector graphics statements
and others identify stored bitmap or literal specifications of which bits to
illuminate (raster graphics images). Using
WMF files rather than already-built bitmaps
saves space when many bitmaps are used
repeatedly by different components of the
operating system or of an application.

File Extensions

File extensions are a way of letting the user and their computer know
what type of programme created any given file. It identifies different files
and makes the user aware of what they contain. For example, a file with
an extension of .JPG is an image, and a file with an extension of .exe, is a
programme. Different applications on a computer have different
characteristics, this means that certain files will only open and function in
the application they were produced in or made for.
One file format used to save digital raster images that can be
monochrome or colour, is called BMP. This can also be known as Bitmap
Image File. This can also be stored as a data compression type of both
Lossy and Lossless.
PNG is another form of file extension formats used for Raster images. PNG,
or Portable Network Graphics, was created as an improved version of
Graphic Interchange Formats (GIF) file formats. PNG file formats are the
most commonly used compression format for lossless images on the
internet. With PNG file formats, low-resolution images load quickly, but are
also of a good quality standard.
The file format JPEG is commonly used amongst amateur photographers
as it uses Lossy file compression. This means that the images take up
less memory space, so that the disk space can store more photos. JPEG
also works well with complex imagery as it supports up to 16.7 million
colours.
By default, Windows hides file extensions from the
user. For example, a photo named 'HolidaySnap.jpg'
will appear in My Documents or Windows Explorer as
'HolidaySnap' without the .jpg extension.
Most file extensions consist of three characters, but
the number of characters can vary. For example, the
file extension .py only has two characters. This file
extension is used for files in the widely used Python
programming language. Letters are most common, but some file
extensions use numbers or special characters. For example, the file
extension .wp5 is used for files created using version 5 of the word
processing application WordPerfect.

Applications

Vector based applications

Vector Graphics Applications are used for creating and editing vector
graphics are known as Drawing Packages. Like bitmap graphics software
there are commercial, freeware and open source Vector drawing
applications. There are also web-based and free versions of vector
drawing applications. Most vector graphics software applications can also
be used to create Meta graphics.

Adobe Illustrator is the industry leader in vector drawing applications. This

was one of the original software applications produced by Adobe.
Originally used for creating vector designs for print, it is now also used for
creating web and screen based graphics (including graphics for mobile
devices). Until 1989, Illustrator was only supported on the MAC operating
system. At the time of writing CS3 is the most up-to-date version. This
allows for closer integration with Adobe's web authoring and 2D animation
application, Adobe Flash.

Raster based applications

Raster graphics are digital images created or captured (for example, by
scanning in a photo) as a set of samples of a given space. A raster is a
grid of x and y coordinates on a display space. (And for three-dimensional
images, a z coordinate.) A raster image file identifies which of these
coordinates to illuminate in monochrome or colour values. The raster file
is sometimes referred to as a bitmap because it contains information that
is directly mapped to the display grid.
A raster file is usually larger than a vector graphics image file. A raster file
is usually difficult to modify without loss of information, although there are
software tools that can convert a raster file into a
vector file for refinement and changes. Examples of
raster image file types are BMP, TIFF, GIF, and JPEG
files.

Media Forms

Print

The oldest media forms are newspapers,

magazines, journals, newsletters, and other
printed material. These publications are
collectively known as the print media. Although
print media readership has declined in the last few
decades, many Americans still read a newspaper
every day or a newsmagazine on a regular basis.
The influence of print media is therefore
significant. Regular readers of print media tend to
be more likely to be politically active.
Advertising on billboards and posters gives advertisers the opportunity to
reach consumers on the move. Putting posters in retail malls, for example,
helps advertisers reach consumers close to the point of purchase. Posters
or billboards in train stations, airports or busy town centres have the
potential to reach large groups of consumers. Advertisers can change the
messages on billboards and posters at a frequency of their choice.

Moving Image
All of my graphics I have designed were created to be still images as the
formats of the graphics I have made do not allow for moving image, as
well as the client requirements do not state anything on creating moving
images.
However, moving images can be an alternative method of advertising a
band like The Pixels and can be effective if done properly. In relation to
my assignment brief, an idea of using moving images for The Pixels could
be to utilise the logo that I create in Photoshop. The logo can then be
transferred to a moving image software to add it to a promotional video of
the band. The logo could appear at the very start of the video and then
using transitional effects; the logo could then fade away or dissolve to
move onto the next scene.
Another method of promoting the band through moving image could be to
create a GIF. A GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. GIFS use a
series of images, which are played back at a certain frame rate to give the
impression of moving image. GIFs only last for a short period of time up to
about 6 seconds and continuously repeat itself once the GIF finishes. A GIF
made for The Pixels could include a series of images of the band
performing live, then the logo shows at the end of the gif to clarify who
the band actually are.

Interactive

Interactive media is a method of communication in which the program's

outputs depend on the user's inputs, and the user's inputs in turn affect
the program's outputs. Interactive media engage the user and interact
with him or her in a way that non-interactive media do not. Websites and
video games are two common types of interactive media. Movies and
most TV shows are generally not considered interactive media; however,
shows that require audience participation could be considered interactive
media.
Social media originated as strictly a personal tool that people used to
interact with friends and family but were later adopted by
businesses that wanted to take advantage of a popular new
communication method to reach out to customers. Social
media can now be used for many reasons. It is quite common now
for bands to promote material that they have produced through social
media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.