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Bit-Mapped And Vector Graphics Definition
DocumentID: 655899
Revision Date: 29-Feb-96 8:29:39 PM

The information in this document applies to:
WordPerfect® 5.1 for DOS

Problem

Solutions: Bit-Mapped And Vector Graphics: There are two basic graphic file formats, bit-mapped and vector based. The only difference between all the different graphic file formats is how the data is stored; i.e., is it compressed, how is it compressed, what order do the numbers fall in.

Each pixel in a bit-mapped file (a pixel is the smallest display unit of a screen) contains one or more bits. Multiple bits are used when the image is in color. The more colors a pixel can be, the more bits it takes to store one pixel. For example, a pixel that can be 256 different colors requires 8 bits. So, for a screen that is 640x480 256 colors requires 2,457,600 bits or 307,200 bytes. The higher the resolution and the higher the number of colors the greater the amount of memory required.


Images are stored as numbers in a vector based file. In a line, the start and end locations are stored. In a curve, the start and end points are stored, along with other points that define the curvature. If an arc is to be shaded, the program keeps track of the color of one point inside the area that is to be shaded.

Some users may feel that vector based files are better than bit-mapped files; they take less room to store, and objects can be tagged as a whole for manipulation. However, if you had a picture of a face, storing that image in a vector file would be nearly impossible. Technologies are being developed to store images with delicate shadings in vector files, but the pure image available with bit-map has not been achieved at this point time (Apr, 1991). Also, certain input devices, such as scanners, transmit their images as bit maps only.


The choice between the file formats is more a matter of what is needed, than what is wanted. Bit maps are very good at drawings with delicate shadings. Vector files are very good at blue prints. Both formats will most likely continue for a very long time, as neither can replace the other at their respective best.

Answer:

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