[1] GRAPHIC DESIGN BASICS COAGB301: Apply graphic design basics LU 1: Introduce graphic design basics 1.1: Describe key features and formats of digital images 1.1.1: Description of digital images key features Digital images key features Pixel Resolution Size Lossy image file compression Lossless image file compression Raster graphics Vector graphics Pixel In digital imaging, a pixel or picture element is a physical point in a raster image or the smallest addressable element in an all points addressable display device; so it is the smallest controllable element of a picture represented on the screen. Resolution What does image resolution mean? Resolution refers to the number of pixels in an image. Resolution is sometimes identified by the width and height of the image as well as the total number of pixels in the image. For example, an image that is 2048 pixels wide and 1536 pixels high (2048 x 1536) contains (multiply) 3,145,728 pixels (or 3.1 Megapixels). You could call it a 2048 x 1536 or a 3.1 Megapixel image. As the megapixels in the pickup device in your camera increase so does the possible maximum size image you can produce. This means that a 5 megapixel camera is capable of capturing a larger image than a 3 megapixel camera. How does image resolution play out on my computer monitor? The computer screen you are looking at right now is set at a particular resolution as well. The larger the screen, the larger you likely have your screen resolution set. If you have a 17" monitor, likely you have it set at 800 x 600 pixels. If you have a 19" screen it is likely set at 1024 x 768. You can change the settings but these are optimum for those screen sizes. Now, if your monitor is set to 800 x 600 and you open up an image that is 640 x 480, it will only fill up a part of your screen. If you open up an image that is 2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels) then you will find yourself moving the slider bar around to see all the different parts of the image. It just won't fit. To see the spider above at this resolution, click one the spider image above. Add to that the fact that the computer monitor has a finite number of pixels per inch available (like 72) so if you are going to display your image on a monitor only, you would want to drop the quality down to 72 to save file space. If you are going to put your image on a webpage or email it to a friend then you will want to first make it a useful size. Not too big, not too small. Maybe 200- [2] 300 pixels high would be a nice size. You can also reduce the size of the file (not necessarily the size of the image) so it loads faster. You reduce the file size by compressing the image (see the next question). Size The picture size is measured in pixels, also can measured in byte Data Compression is a method of decreasing the size of the data without significant/importance loss of information. Lossy image file compression Lossless compression means that as the file size is compressed, the picture quality remains the same Lossless image file compression Permanently removes data. Raster graphics Raster graphics is that raster graphics are composed of pixels File extensions: .BMP, GIF, JPG Vector graphics Vector graphics are composed of paths. File extensions: .SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics). PDF, .AI (adobe illustrator), 1.1.2: Describing common raster formats Format Description .JPEG JPEG. Stands for "Joint Photographic Experts Group." JPEG is a popular image file format. .PNG PNG stands for Portable Network Graphic PNG Files are often used to store graphics on websites. . Another use for PNGs is when portions of the image need to be transparent .GIF Stands for "Graphics Interchange Format. GIF is an image file format commonly used for images on the web .TIFF of TIF TIFF of TIF: Tagged Image File Is a standard in the printing and publishing industry. .BMP The BMP file format standard for bitmap Handles graphic files within the Microsoft [3] Windows OS. .PDF PDF (Portable Document Format) also is Printer Definition File Is a file format that has captured all the elements of a printed document as an electronic image that you can view, navigate, print, or forward to someone else. RAW .RAW Raw file is a collection of unprocessed data. Raw files are often used as data files by software programs that load and process the data. .CR CR stands for Canon RAW and belongs to the group of RAW image file formats. .CR2 CR2 stands for Canon RAW 2nd edition and belongs to the group of RAW image file formats. .DNG DNG stand for Digital Negative was created to store image data in a generic, highly-compatible format, unlike RAW files that have specific formats based on manufacturer and camera type 1.1.3 Describing common vector formats Format Description SVG SVG stand for Scalable Vector Graphics Files Use XML (Extensible Markup Language (XML)) based text format for describing the appearance of image. EPS EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript Used in vector-based images in Adobe Illustrator. 1.1.4 Describing application formats Photoshop PSD: stands for Photoshop Document Is the default format that Photoshop uses for saving data? [4] PSD is a proprietary file that allows the user to work with the images' individual layers even after the file has been saved PSB Stands for (Photoshop Big) File extension is an Adobe Photoshop Large Document file. Illustrator AI AI file extension represents Adobe Illustrator Artwork file. This graphics file format is a creation of Adobe systems for containing vector based graphics in a single page. InDesign INDD An INDD file is a professional page layout project created with Adobe InDesign. It includes page formatting information, page content, linked files, styles, and swatches. INDD files are commonly used for creating and formatting books, magazines, newspapers, flyers, and brochures. 1.2: Capture digital images 1.2.1 Saving image from a digital camera Capture is the process of acquiring/obtaining/getting data for use at some later date, usually by converting an analog signal into a digital one, such as a video capture card converting a TV signal to digital video. The process of image capture can be divided into four steps. These are: Capture Store Edit Display Way you can use to capture digital image [5] The analog model The equipment or hardware required for capturing image in analogy model includes: camera (input device) colour balancer (restore colour balance to images) wave form monitor (monitors the quality of the signal) colour monitors (to visualise the process) video tape recorder/recordable videodisc (recording device) The digital model: To convert an analogue image (whether transparency or stored on tape/videodisc) to a digital image There are three possibilities as far as equipment or hardware is concerned/involved: Digitising board (frame grabber/video board) plus analogue input (e.g. camera, videotape) Scanner (hand-held, flat-bed, transparency) Digital camera Digitizing boards: are boards or cards that fit into the expansion slots of the computer, allowing the capture and storage of a digital file. Transfer Images from a Digital Camera to Your PC Use a USB cable: The most awkward option for transferring images from a digital camera is to connect the camera to your PC by using a USB cable. The images must then be “beamed/shined” into the PC from the camera, or the camera may appear as a “disk drive” in the Computer window. Insert your memory card into the PC: The best way of transferring images from your digital camera is to remove its memory card and plug the card into the PC. Upon plugging in the memory card, you’re greeted by an AutoPlay dialog box, as shown in the following figure. [6] When you see the AutoPlay dialog box, you need to choose a program to use for transferring the images. You most likely see the options shown in the figure, including perhaps any custom software you’ve installed. Use one of the following import options: Import Pictures Using Windows: All images are read from the memory card and transferred to the PC’s hard drive. The images are organized and can be viewed by using the Windows Photo Gallery program. Import Pictures and Videos to My Computer: By running a special import wizard, this option gives you the most control over which images are transferred to the PC. It’s available only in versions of Windows Vista that come with the Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition. Open Folder to View Files: A Windows Explorer window opens, allowing you to view files stored on the memory card. You can then manually transfer the image files from the memory card to your PC’s hard drive. 1.2.2 Using print screen Copy only the image of the active window Only one window can be active at a time. Click the window that you want to copy. Press ALT+PRINT SCREEN. Paste (CTRL+V) the image into an Office program or other application. 1.2.3 Saving image from website [7] Steps 1. Open a Web browser. 2. Find an image to download. Do so by browsing or running a search for a specific image. ... 3. Tap and hold an image to open it. 4. Tap Save Image. The image will be saved to your device, and you can view it in the Photos app.