AI Term of the Moment
AI engine
Definition: graphics
(1) For the chip used to process graphics and AI, see GPU.
(2) For the hardware that generates graphics, see display adapter, discrete graphics and integrated graphics.
(3) The following describes the basic ways graphics are created and maintained in the computer. For complex graphics, a fast computer is required, and although mice are widely used for drawing, a digitizer tablet is employed for greater precision (see digitizer tablet, graphics pipeline and CAD).
Draw vs. Paint, Scan and Take Photo
Vector vs. Bitmap
Vector Graphics for CAD and Drawing
Vector graphics comprise a series of points, lines, arcs and other geometric shapes that are created in computer-aided design (CAD) and drawing programs. Each line is a vector, defined as two end points on an x-y matrix. For example, a square is four vectors, one for each side. A circle is many tiny straight lines, the quantity determined by the drawing's resolution. A vector graphics file is entirely a list of vectors.
Vector Graphic Elements Are Easily Scaled
The advantage of vector graphics is that each vector element maintains its own identity and can be selected and manipulated independently of the others. Any single element can be scaled (resized) smaller or larger.
From Vectors to Bitmaps
Monitors display pixels, and printers print dots, and pixels and dots are bitmaps. Therefore, to display or print a vector graphics image, it must be converted into bitmaps ("rasterized"). The rasterization process is performed by the operating system and printer language (see page description language).
3D Vector Graphics
Bitmapped Graphics for Imaging and Painting
Bitmapped graphics (or "bitmap" graphics) and "raster graphics," are like a TV screen. Each image is divided into horizontal rows of "pixels" (dots). There can be millions of pixels in a single image (see megapixel).
Many Formats, All Digital
Unlike TV, which uses one family of formats for the country, there are dozens of bitmapped graphics and vector graphics formats. See graphics formats and DTV.
Bits Per Pixel
When an image is scanned into the computer or "painted" with a paint program, a bitmap is created in a reserved area of memory with some number of bits corresponding to each pixel. The simplest monochrome bitmap (black and white) uses one bit per pixel (on/off). Gray scale bitmaps store a number for each pixel corresponding to a shade of gray; for example, 8 bits holds 254 gray levels plus black and white (see binary values).
The Background Is Always Part of the Bitmap
Bitmapped image files are generally much larger than their vector counterparts and are often compressed to save space. They are larger because storage for each pixel is required whether part of the object or just the background. In contrast, a vector graphics image comprises only the vectors for the drawing. There is no background in the file.
Drawing vs. Painting
Canvas Does Both
Getting More Realistic All the Time
(2) For the hardware that generates graphics, see display adapter, discrete graphics and integrated graphics.
(3) The following describes the basic ways graphics are created and maintained in the computer. For complex graphics, a fast computer is required, and although mice are widely used for drawing, a digitizer tablet is employed for greater precision (see digitizer tablet, graphics pipeline and CAD).
Graphics are divided into "vector graphics" and "bitmapped graphics." When pictures are drawn (top), they become vector graphics. When they are painted, scanned or photographed, they become a matrix of pixels (digital bitmap). See paint program and scanner.
Intricate illustrations can be created with vector graphics drawing programs (top); however, nothing can provide the realism of a photograph or scan (bottom). (Images courtesy of Adobe Systems, Inc.)
Vector graphics comprise a series of points, lines, arcs and other geometric shapes that are created in computer-aided design (CAD) and drawing programs. Each line is a vector, defined as two end points on an x-y matrix. For example, a square is four vectors, one for each side. A circle is many tiny straight lines, the quantity determined by the drawing's resolution. A vector graphics file is entirely a list of vectors.
Vector Graphic Elements Are Easily Scaled
The advantage of vector graphics is that each vector element maintains its own identity and can be selected and manipulated independently of the others. Any single element can be scaled (resized) smaller or larger.
From Vectors to Bitmaps
Monitors display pixels, and printers print dots, and pixels and dots are bitmaps. Therefore, to display or print a vector graphics image, it must be converted into bitmaps ("rasterized"). The rasterization process is performed by the operating system and printer language (see page description language).
3D CAD and drawing programs are more complicated than their 2D counterparts because objects are created in a 3D workspace. They can be viewed at any angle by rotating them, whereas in 2D programs, the object would have to be redrawn entirely. Using camera angles and light sources, 3D programs render the drawing with shadows. (Image courtesy of Intergraph Computer Systems.)
Bitmapped graphics (or "bitmap" graphics) and "raster graphics," are like a TV screen. Each image is divided into horizontal rows of "pixels" (dots). There can be millions of pixels in a single image (see megapixel).
Many Formats, All Digital
Unlike TV, which uses one family of formats for the country, there are dozens of bitmapped graphics and vector graphics formats. See graphics formats and DTV.
Bits Per Pixel
When an image is scanned into the computer or "painted" with a paint program, a bitmap is created in a reserved area of memory with some number of bits corresponding to each pixel. The simplest monochrome bitmap (black and white) uses one bit per pixel (on/off). Gray scale bitmaps store a number for each pixel corresponding to a shade of gray; for example, 8 bits holds 254 gray levels plus black and white (see binary values).
The Background Is Always Part of the Bitmap
Bitmapped image files are generally much larger than their vector counterparts and are often compressed to save space. They are larger because storage for each pixel is required whether part of the object or just the background. In contrast, a vector graphics image comprises only the vectors for the drawing. There is no background in the file.
Although more painting tools are added to drawing programs and more drawing tools are added to paint programs, their inherent structure is different. Drawing programs (vector graphics) allow for the creation of objects that can be manipulated independently. Paint programs (bitmapped graphics) provide a canvas that can be covered with electronic paint.
The Canvas application combines tools for drawing (vector graphics) and imaging (bitmapped graphics). The drawing of the PC is vector graphics and Doug Engelbart's mouse in the 1960s is a bitmap (see mouse). The opened Image menu shows some of the bitmap editing tools.
A major goal has always beeen to create virtual people who look real, and in the early 2010s before AI blasted onto the scene, it took 19 rendering passes to create this lovely lady. Today, it might take a simple text prompt. To save space for this image in this encyclopedia, the original 2.3MB TIFF file was compressed to a 32KB JPEG image (see JPEG and TIFF). (Image courtesy of NVIDIA Corporation.)