Essential Categories of Graphics and Design Software

Graphics and Design

Categories of Graphic Software

Bitmapped graphics represent images as bitmaps; they are stored as pixels and become distorted when manipulated. The density of dots per inch determines the image quality.

Vector graphics represent images as mathematical formulae, so they can be changed or scaled without losing quality. They are ideal for high-resolution output.

Types of Graphics Software

• Image manipulation programs: Let you edit your favorite images. For example, you can scan a picture into your PC or transfer a photo from your camera and then add different effects or filters.
• Painting and drawing programs: Also called illustration packages, these offer facilities for freehand drawing with a wide choice of pens, brushes, colors, and patterns. One example is Windows Paint.
• Business graphic programs: Also called presentation software, these let you create pie charts and line graphs for slide shows and reports. You can import data from a database or spreadsheet to generate the graphs.
• Computer-aided design (CAD): Used by engineers and architects to design everything from cars and planes to buildings and furniture. First, they make a wireframe, a drawing with edges and contour lines. Then, if they want to color the objects and add texture, they create a surface for the object; this is called “filling the surface.” Finally, the design is rendered to make the object look realistic. Rendering is a process that adds realism to graphics by using shading, light sources, and reflections.
• Desktop publishing (DTP): Based around a page layout program, which lets you import text from a word processor, clip-art (ready-made pictures) from graphics packages, and images from scanners or cameras, and arrange them all on a page. It is used to design and publish books, newspapers, posters, etc.
• Digital art or computer art: Done with applets that use mathematical formulae to create beautiful, bright shapes called fractals. A fractal is a geometrical figure with special properties. Fractals can also be used to model real objects like clouds, coastlines, or landscapes.
• Computer animation: Uses graphics programs (e.g., digital cartoon systems) to create or edit moving pictures. Each image in a sequence of images is called a “frame.”
• Geographic information system (GIS): Allows cartographers to create detailed maps.