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Application and difference of raster and vector graphics
Conference Paper · October 2019
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Sinisa Mihajlovic
University of Novi Sad
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Ivana Berković
University of Novi Sad
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Application and difference of raster and vector
graphics
S. Mihajlović, I. Berković
University of Novi Sad, Technical Faculty “Mihajlo Pupin”, Zrenjanin, Republic of Serbia
mihajlovicsinisa25@gmail.com, ivana.berkovic62@gmail.com
Abstract - This paper presents what raster and vector
graphics are, as well as their role. The image formats are
shown, as well as their division into vector or raster types.
The application of raster and vector graphics in programs is
described. In addition, raster and vector graphics are
compared, and their advantages and disadvantages are
presented.
I. INTRODUCTION
Computer graphics are pictures and films created using
computers. Computer graphics is a sub-field of Computer
Science which studies methods for digitally synthesizing
and manipulating visual content. Computer graphics is
rapidly evolving and expanding since the advent of
personal computers. The highly developed ability to
recognize shape in humans makes computer graphics one
of the most natural ways to communicate with your
computer. Raster graphical interaction has become a
standard component of computer use interfaces. Computer
graphics include the creation, storage and use of models
and images of objects. Computer graphics models and
objects come from different fields: nature, science,
engineering, abstract concepts, etc. [1]
Raster graphics are based on a two-dimensional grid of
pixels. An image is displayed as a discrete set of tiny
elements of an image (Pixel – PICture ELement), and
each pixel is assigned a number, representing the color of
the pixels. Vector graphics use basic geometric figures
(points, directions, circles, arcs, polygons) to display an
image. This allows the image to be enlarged without
losing image quality, for unlike raster graphics [2].
In a computer sense, an image is the product of a
graphic program that is executed with the help of a
computer. An image is loaded into the computer's memory
space in one of three ways:
• By uploading an image from a digital camera's
memory, directly from the camera or from another
memory space (Internet ...).
• Scanning with a peripheral called a scanner.
• By creating an image using a program to create or
process images [3].
II. RELATED WORK
Computer graphics is nowadays used in various fields
of economy, administration, education, entertainment and
everyday home life. The field of application is expanding
rapidly with the spread of computers. In vector graphics,
building elements are objects (straight and curved lines,
open and closed, filled and unfilled geometric shapes) that
can overlap, overlap, or fit to form an image. Computer
internal representation of such images is a series of
mathematical vector formulas that describe the manner
and order of drawing objects, hence the name of the type
of graphics itself. Vector graphics find their application in
CAD programs for designers and there is no alternative if
we want to simulate a three-dimensional world with a
computer. Vector graphics are completely inappropriate
for displaying scenes consisting of so many details that do
not fit into a mathematically descriptive link
(photography). In these cases, raster graphics are used.
Raster graphics use the so-called basic element of the
image. pixel, which has unique values of color and or
intensity. A raster image is an image composed of points
of different brightness levels or different colors [7].
Raster graphics or bitmaps are data that represent a
rectangular grid of pixels or colored dots, on a graphical
output device such as a monitor or on paper. Each color of
an individual pixel is separately defined such that (for
example) RGB images contain three bytes per pixel, each
byte contains one specially defined color. Red Green Blue
- this means that each color has its own value, changing
the value yields colors other than these three basic ones.
The higher these values the image will take up more
space. If the image is black and white, this means that the
pixel requires only one bit as opposed to a color image
that requires three bytes (RGB) per pixel. Therefore, black
and white images are smaller in terms of space. A raster
RGB image, each pixel has its own R, G and B value,
which is measured in percent [1].
Vector images can scale without damage and are
relatively small. It only takes a few hundred kilobytes.
Printing a vector illustration in small size gives it a great
and beautiful quality, and if enlarged to a large size it still
looks perfect. Raster images depend on the resolution. The
image is damaged by increasing the image size. The pixel
is a small part of the raster image. Computer pixels are
square in shape and rectangular on TV. The pixel on the
computer image contains the tonal information of the
same location in the original image. Pixels can represent
monochrome information, duotone information, RGB
color information, CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black)
colors and other colors. The computer displays the pixel
so that the computer considers the correct color for that
small part of the original image. Bitmap represents the
original image, but in the digital world [12].
The quality of a single raster image determines the
total number of pixels (resolution) as well as the number
of values for each individual pixel (color depth). If the
color depth is greater, more shades can be displayed,
which means a better image as well as a more authentic
display. Images require a lot of memory, which is why
various types of compression are used. Bitmap (BMP) is
an uncompressed file that does not use any type of
compression, the images in this format are very large,
unlike the BMP format much more popular and more
commonly used is the JPEG (JPG) format which
compresses the image without noticing a loss in quality
though it’s impossible to do, but it’s close to reality. A
raster image cannot be enlarged to a higher resolution
without loss of quality, which is not the case with vector
graphics. Raster graphics are more practical than vector
graphics for photographers and ordinary users. Vector
graphics are used by graphic designers and DTP editors.
The first versions of the monitor could display from about
72 to 130 pixels per inch (PPI), while today's printers can
print 2400 dots per inch (DPI). Vector graphics or
geometric shaping is a way of displaying an image using
geometric shapes such as points, lines, curves, and
polygons that are based on mathematical equations. In
general, vector shapes are much easier to remember than
demanding bitmap images. Almost all of today's computer
graphics represent a vector image in raster format. The
raster image is stored in memory and contains data for
each pixel of an image. The term vector graphics has been
mostly used in the context of two-dimensional computer
graphics. Almost every 3D rendering was done using a 2D
vector technique (using dots, lines and polygons). Vector
graphics are good for removing unnecessary details from a
photo [1].
The raster image is represented approximately by
dividing the surface of the image by lines parallel to
horizontal and vertical axis in the grid of squares - pixels.
The pixel is characterized by the intensity of lighting and
colors. How many images will take up space it does not
depend on the computer memory just from its complexity
but rather than the number of pixels and number the
colors available. Vector graphics or geometric shaping is
a way of displaying an image using geometric shapes
such as points, lines, curves, and polygons that are based
on mathematical equations. Unlike bitmap images, the
vector format is reusable because it allows printing on
any format, with extreme ease and flexibility, making it
unrivaled in creating and storing logos. As much as it
works on advancement of the programs, it is not possible
to achieve photorealistic, which is also the only, great
disadvantage of vector views. The most famous vector
formats are EPS, AI, PDF, etc. [3]
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is a standard for
vector graphics developed by World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C). The standard is very complex, many
browsers and programs now offer support for rendering
SVG data, although complete implementation is still very
rare. Metafile is a generic name for a format that contains
multiple types of data. Typically, raster and vector
formats are combined. The most popular is Adobe PDF
[6].
Table 1 illustrate most important images formats.
TABLE I. MOST IMPORTANT IMAGES FORMATS [3]
Format Vector or Raster Description
.BMP Windows Bitmap Raster Used to view and store Windows images.
.CGM
Computer Graphics
Metafile
Vector
A format developed by the collaboration of various standardization organizations. It is
supported by many software companies.
.DCX Windows Images Raster Format for multiple '.PCX' files (Windows).
.DXF Data Exchange File Vector
Format created by AutoDesk. Almost all PC based CAD (Computer Aided Design) based
systems support DXF.
.EPS Encapsulated Postscript
Vector, often with a
Raster header
Format for PostScript language. EPS uses a combination of PostScript commands and TIFF
or PICT format.
.GIF
Graphics Interchange
Format
Raster
This format can be used on different platforms, and is often used to store images for the
WWW. Because the record is relatively small, images are quickly transmitted over the
Internet. However, the GIF is limited to 256 colors, and colors are not displayed on all
platforms.
.JPG
Joint Photographic Experts
Group
Raster
An international standard used for digital image compression. The files are relatively
small, depending on the degree compression. This is an original image format that cannot
be restored.
.PCX PC Paintbrush Raster
Format created by Zsoft. Supported by many Windows applications, as well as many
optical scanners and fax modems.
.PIC Lotus Picture File Vector
A relatively simple graphic format developed by Lotus to display the graphics generated
by Lotus 1-2-3. PIC is supported by many PC applications.
.PICT Picture Format Vector
A format for Macintosh graphics files developed by Apple Computer. It is supported by all
graphics programs that working on a Macintosh.
.PNG Portable Network Graphics Raster A more advanced version of the .GIF format.
.TIFF Tagged Image File Format Raster
This format is used to save and exchange between 'desktop publishing' and 'graphic design'
applications. TIFF also support different platforms, such as Microsoft Windows and
Macintosh. It is also used for scanning image because it supports all sizes, resolutions and
color depths.
.WMF Windows Metafile
Vector, may also
contain a raster
image
Windows image storage and sharing format applications.
.WPG WordPerfect Graphic File Vector Format used by WordPerfect.
III. APPLICATION OF RASTER AND VECTOR GRAPHICS
Raster images can be inserted into vector programs,
but their ability is modification and transformation in
these programs is limited. For a generation of
modification (retouching) of raster images raster
programs are used. As the capabilities of these programs
are based on the theory of photography combined with
modern technology, to describe the capabilities of these
programs than for vector programs. Corel Photo-Paint is
part of the Corel software package intended for creating,
retouching and processing raster images [3].
Although basic operations over raster graphics
(resizing) color depths, cropping part of the image, image
rotation) can be done using tools that are component of
system software (MS Paint), for any serious interventions
(contrast adjustment, histograms, imitation painting
techniques) are used professional software, the most
famous of which is Adobe Photoshop [2]. Figure 1 shows
an example of using Adobe Photoshop software, while
Figure 2 shows the use of Adobe Illustrator software.
Figure 1. Example of using Adobe Photoshop raster graphics software
[10]
Vector graphics software is used for DTP (DeskTop
Publishing), graphic design and CAD (Computer Aided
Design), or computer-aided design. The first one the
commercial application of CAD was in large companies
in the automotive and aviation industries, and in
electronics. Back then, only large corporations could
afford computers that could run complex calculations [2].
Catia is used for 3D modeling. Autodesk has created
CAD software and its main purpose is 2D and 3D
modeling, but it is also used for CAM (Computer Aided
Manufacturing), computer-aided manufacturing and CAE
(Computer Aided Engineering), computer-aided
technology. CAE covers the use of computers in design,
computer analysis and simulation [2]. In the most
widespread programs, which are fully compatible and
capable are to save the vector format, include Adobe
Illustrator, Corel Draw, Macromedia Freehand and
others. Bitmap image processing programs are numerous
and most common Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom,
Corel Photo-Paint, ultimately the case of Paint [5].
Gimp (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an
extremely high-quality graphic element processing
program that can be used in many ways: as a simple
drawing program, as a professional image processing
program, as an image renderer, as a graphic format
converter. GIMP's main function is to edit bitmaps, but
with it comes tools for working with vector graphics. It is
primarily intended for the Linux platform (where it was
popularly called "Photoshop for Linux"), and there are
versions of it for the Mac and Windows platforms. Its
user interface is a bit cumbersome and confusing, which
may be its biggest drawback [8].
Figure 2. Example of using Adobe Illustrator software for vector
graphics [11]
IV. COMPARISON
Comparing raster and vector graphics, the following
differences are observed: the first important difference is
that the image quality decreases with increasing bitmap,
while the vector image does not lose image quality,
because every time the computer changes the value of all
pixels is recalculated. For vector images, magnification is
done by resizing the vector using arithmetic formulas, so
that enlarging the image has no effect on the display
quality. Another important difference is the size of the
graphic file. Raster graphics images have a much larger
file, while vector graphics allow for a much smaller file
size [4]. Figure 3 illustrate an example of vector and
raster graphics.
Figure 3. Example image shown in vector and raster graphics [9]
Vector graphics have many advantages over raster
graphics:
• They need significantly less memory space,
• They are easy to manipulate, without losing
shape and quality.
• When the vector image is enlarged, it does not
lose a bit on the sharpness and quality of the
image.
• If the raster image is reduced and then resized,
some image details are permanently lost [7].
However, raster images are very suitable for adding
fine effects to an existing image. Raster images are
especially useful for displaying images with many details
[7]. Vector graphics are used to create logos, illustrations
and precise typography. Vector images come from
graphics programs. An image cannot be scanned or saved
as a vector file without special software. The vector can
be easily converted to a raster. Most vector programs
offer rasterization options. Opening a vector file in an
Adobe Photoshop raster program will be automatically
rasterized [13].
V. CONCLUSION
Computer graphics is constantly advancing, and as
technology evolves, its use is expanding. There is a
division into raster and vector graphics, and each has its
own role. Raster graphics consist of pixels, while vector
graphics consist of mathematical formulas. The raster
data takes up a lot of space, and if the raster image is
enlarged, it loses quality. Vector images take up little
space, it is possible to enlarge and reduce the image
without losing quality. Therefore, it is ideally suited for
corporate logos, geographical maps and other objects that
often need to be resized. Raster and vector graphics are
used in various programs. The most popular program
used to work with raster images is Adobe Photoshop,
while to use vector images is used Adobe Illustrator,
Corel Draw and others.
Computer graphics is used in virtual reality, which
brings innovations in architecture, sports, medicine, the
arts and entertainment. Virtual reality is at the beginning
of development, but in the future, it will be a daily
occurrence, and anyone will be able to use it. Developing
computer graphics enhances the quality of photos,
movies, games, and software on a daily basis.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Ministry of Education, Science and Technological
Development, Republic of Serbia financially supported
this research, under the project number TR32044: “The
development of software tools for business process
analysis and improvement”, 2011-2019.
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