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CorelDraw 101: Getting Started 2
Vectors and Bitmaps
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Graphic File Types
There are two basic types of graphic files: Bitmap and Vector. Although
you cannot always tell by looking at an image whether it is a bitmap
or vector type, they are very different and created in a totally different
way. This can be confusing, but understanding the difference is essential
to understanding computer graphics. |
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Bitmap Images
Bitmap images are constructed from a series of pixels, or tiny squares.
Sometimes the squares are all filled with one color, forming a solid
image, but more often, each pixel contains a unique color Look at the
example at the left. On the left is the way we see an image. On the
right the outlines are drawn to represent the pixels. |
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Vector Images
Vector images have no pixels. They are displayed or printed with mathematical
positioning. A vector image contains messages like, draw a rectangle,
this size and at this place on the page. The example here approximates
how the design is created. Compare it to the bitmap example of the same
image. |
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File Size
Vector files are usually considerably smaller than a bitmap file of
the same image, since there is less information required to achieve
the same results. The exception is in photographic type images where
color changes with almost every pixel. This type of file is best created
and edited in a bitmap program. The two images here look the same. The
one on the left is a bitmap, size 122,888 bytes. The one on the right
is vector, size 11,227 bytes. |
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Resizing
Bitmap images lose quality if they are scaled to a larger size. There
is simply not enough information to maintain the quality - basically
the pixels just get bigger. With vector images, the mapping is all that
changes. Instead of calling for a rectangle 2" by 1", scaling to twice
the size simply changes the rectangle to 4" by 2" with no quality loss
and no file size increase. See the example here which simulates bitmap
scaling on the left and vector on the right. |
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CorelDraw Vector/Bitmap
CorelDraw is essentially a vector construction program. It has a few
borrowed capabilities from Corel PhotoPaint integrated into the program,
but for the most part, it is a vector program. Corel PhotoPaint creates
and edits bitmap file types. The two work together to provide all you
need in computer graphics. |
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Bitmaps in CorelDraw
Bitmaps can be imported, cropped and positioned in CorelDraw. To edit,
or change the appearance of the bitmap, use Corel PhotoPaint and import
the results into your CorelDraw document. |
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 Wendy
Peck is a working Web designer and writer living in NW Ontario, Canada.
http://wpeck.com
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Next page
CorelDraw 101 Tutorial Index
Vectors and Bitmaps
Set View
Work in Wireframe View
Hints for Learning CorelDraw
Menu Overview: Part 1
Menu Overview: Part 2
Dockers Overview
 
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