Computer graphics

 Introduction The term "Graphics" is derived from the Greek word 'graphikos', which means 'something written'. Graphics can be defined as visual data in the form of images or designs created to inform or communicate. Such visual images that are generated by a computer are called computer graphics. Computer Graphics is an important area in computer applications. The term Computer Graphics includes everything that is presented through images. Graphics provide visual feedback to the user. Hence, it is considered as an important component of communication. Computer Graphics includes everything that is presented through images developed or designed using different graphical software. Graphic design is a means of visual communication. As you have heard an English proverb "A picture is worth a thousand words", with a good graphical design, you can express your message more effectively and beautifully. Our brain processes visual information so much more effectively and quickly than textual information. Therefore, Graphics is a very important communication component in present days. The term “Computer Graphics” was first used by William Fetter, Graphic Designer of Boeing Company in 1960. 

Uses of Computer Graphics 

a) Publication of books, magazines, newspapers etc. 

b) Cartoon movies and computer games 

c) Educational materials 

d) Computer simulation, VR-Virtual Reality, scientific modelling, engineering design

Computer-generated images vary from line drawings to the complex 2-D/3-D animated graphics. Varieties of software programs are developed to draw simple to complex graphics. 

Some popular image editing softwares are given below. 

 Adobe Photoshop 

 GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) 

 Google Drawing 

 Adobe Illustrator 

 CorelDraw 

 Paint.net 

Different Graphics Format Image files are composed of digital data. Graphic formats are the standard that is used for organizing and storing digital images. Basically, there are two types of graphics format.

 a) Raster Format 

Raster format (also called Bitmap images) are composed of tiny squares called pixels (px), and each pixel is assigned a specific colour. If a JPG or GIF image is magnified greatly in a program like Adobe Photoshop, individual pixels can be viewed and changed. Pixel is the smallest element of a raster image. A pixel (short for Picture Element) is the smallest addressable element of a picture represented on a screen. The number of pixels determines the image quality. Common file extensions of raster formats are JPG, GIF, BMP, TIF, and PNG. 

b) Vector Format 

Unlike raster format, vector images are not composed of pixels. Digital information is stored using some mathematical formula in a vector image. The main feature of vector graphics is that its quality remains the same when you enlarge it to any size. Common file extensions of vector formats are AI, PDF, SVG, EPS

Note: 

BMP- Bitmap 

TIFF- Tagged Image File Format 

AI- Adobe Illustrator 

SVG- Scalable Vector Graphic 

EPS- Encapsulated Post Script 

PDF- Portable Document Format 

Graphics for Web Graphics are the most important component of website design. It adds visual appeal to the information on the web page. Graphics are the most effective and interesting way to communicate or explain ideas visually. Web graphics include illustrated images, info graphics, charts, graphs, animated graphics, and photographs. Things to be considered while using web graphics:  Graphical content should be used with purpose. 

 Don't use graphics with large file size. It consumes more bandwidth. 

 Always use graphics relevant to the content. 

 Crop the unwanted part of the graphics. 

 Balance the graphics with background and text color. 

Graphical Software for web

 Adobe Photoshop, GIMP for raster graphics. They also provide limited features of handling vector graphics. 

 Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw for vector graphics. 

 Google Photos, Pixlr, Befunky, Fotor, Pic Monkey, Photoshop Express, iPiccy are some popular online photo editors. Web Graphics format The primary web graphics formats are gif, jpg and png. These entire common web graphics format are called bitmap graphics. JPG Graphics 

 JPG is the most used image file format. 

 Digital cameras usually produce images in JPG format 

 Suitable for images with a lot of different colors, like photographs GIF Graphics 

 The second most common image format used on the World Wide Web after JPEG. 

 Suitable for images that require a few distinct colors, such as line drawings, logos, b/w images or images with few colors. PNG Graphics 

 Newest file format. 

 Better compression and transparency features than GIF.