CLASS NOTES

Vector vs Raster Lecture Notes (8/25/16)

Different methods for creating digital art:

Raster = pixels

Vectors = curves made with math

Bezier curve means using a polynomial to map shapes

Multiple bezier curves can make NURBS which are three dimensional vector shapes

Bezier curves can be scaled infinitely

Raster means pixelated images like photographs and videos

Raster images can’t be scaled beyond their native resolution without losing quality

Raster image pixels are comprised of three colors: red, green, and blue

Vector is a mathematically based method for creating line data

Vector files are smaller than image files

Vector files require software like adobe flash to run

Vectors print better

Vectors are stored in AI, PDF, WMF, FLC

Fonts are made with vectors in word processing software

Talented artists can create photorealistic images with vector art

Graphic File Formats: Understanding Image Choice and Compression (9/15/16)

Lossy files sacrifice quality for smaller file size

Lossless files retain full quality

TIFF, JPG, PNG, and GIF are most common

PNG is higher quality and can have an alpha channel

TIF (tagged image format) is a lossless format that is compatible with all computer systems. It’s not browser friendly.

JPG (joint photographers expert group) is a lossy format with an adjustable level of compression. It has a 10:1 reduction of file size. Better for photos.

GIF (graphic file format) is better for graphics or images with flat colors. It has no DPI so it isn’t suitable for printing.

Contiguous pixels means colors blur into one another

Aliased means distinct pixels and anti-aliased means that pixels are blended. Anti-aliasing is used to make low-resolution images look better.