When working with two-dimensional graphics, it is very important to understand the basics of its structure and the principles by which it will change, in a word, to represent how the computer sees it. Of the two main types of images - vector and raster - each finds its application in a certain field, and also has its advantages.
The units that make up bitmap images are pixels. These are small monitor squares that carry and transmit color information. With their help, raster images are puzzled and perceived as a whole. The quality of the monitor display of such images depends on the number of pixels per inch. Basically, all modern computers are produced with a resolution of 72 or 96 pixels per inch (the value varies depending on the screen settings).
You can quickly distinguish raster images from vector ones by looking at their format. The most common raster formats are .gif, .bmp, .png, .jpeg, .psd and others.
Raster images are obtained when creating files in Adobe Photoshop using basic tools, as well as when scanning any documents. In addition, all photographs belong to this type of two-dimensional graphics. Thus, without changing the format of these types of files in the process, you can avoid loss of quality and color distortion. And you need to print images using a printer as a bitmap.
Translating a raster image into a vector one is quite simple and requires only a graphic editor that supports both types of images. In this case, when saving the picture, the vector graphic format is simply indicated. However, this method may not always give a good result. Most reliable will be the manual redrawing of the raster image into a vector one, but this requires good skills with vector editors.
So, we emphasize the main points: bitmap images on the monitor screen are a pixel grid, the quality of which depends on the resolution and parameters of the monitor. Such graphics can be easily converted to another format. Upon closer examination, the contours of such images are in the form of a broken line from straight segments that are the boundaries of the pixels.
Raster images undoubtedly have their drawbacks and limitations, which also cannot be ignored. Unlike vector graphics, such images have the boundaries of magnification and other major changes. With a significant increase in scale, the raster image is likely to lose quality. Therefore, the storage of large-sized pixel images takes, respectively, a lot of computer memory. In addition, raster graphics practically do not support transparency properties. Only images in .gif and .png are endowed with this feature, and therefore have higher quality.
The raster format is most suitable for those who use the creation of complex realistic shadows, as well as other three-dimensional effects and textures, when working with images. And, of course, photographers who process their photos in Photoshop are shown only a raster type of graphic image.