Graphics software
Most graphics programs create bitmapAn image made up of pixels. This type of image loses quality if its width and/or height are increased. images and some create vectorAn image stored as mathematical instructions for how to draw it. This means its width and height can be increased without the loss of quality. images too. Bitmap images lose quality when they are resized but vector images do not - they are generally less detailed and realistic than bitmaps though.
Graphics software can readTo look at the contents of a file or device. and save to lots of different file types. An image’s file type or file formatsThe way that a specific file type is saved, eg. a picture file is different from a text document. Different file formats have different file extensions, eg. *.jpg or *.txt). should be chosen based on its intended use.
- JPG – small file size, used by cameras and for images on the internet.
- GIF – small file size, used on the internet for images that have large blocks of colour.
- PNG – small to medium file size, designed to replace GIF. It is slowly growing in use.
- BMP – large file size, rarely used these days.
- TIFF – very large file size, primarily used in the print industry.
web browserAn application that displays web pages. can only display images in a limited number of file formats. To make sure your image can be displayed, save it as a JPG, GIF or PNG file.
Some graphics programs have their own file type that only they can open and save in. These are called proprietarySoftware owned by a company. The opposite of open source. file formats.
Photo-editing software, drawing, and painting software share many of the same features and some programs claim to do it all.