Creative Media BTEC: File Types Pro Forma

1. Digital Graphics
File Formats
Sophie Baker

2. Raster Graphics
• Give a definition of Raster Graphics
Raster graphics are mainly used by graphics designers
to create digital imagery on a computer using
software's such as Photoshop. They can be made in
formats such as JPEG, TIFF, GIF and BMP. Each Raster
Graphic is made up of Bitmaps which are images made
up of pixels. Each of these pixels records colour for the
image. When zooming out of a Bitmap the image
becomes clearer because they have fixed resolution.
However when zooming into the Bitmap the images
becomes less clear and distort the image altogether.

3. Vector Graphics
• Give a definition of Vector Graphics
Vector graphics are used to make geometrical shapes
e.g. lines, curves and polygons. These graphics are
made up of paths and strokes which are defined by a
start, an end point and all of the points between them.
With this the path that has now been created can form
a line of a shape. Vectors have no lose of definition and
can be scaled which makes them very useful of graphics
such as business logos.

4. Raster Graphics

5. JPEG
Stands For Joint Photographic Experts Group
Used For/Example Used for storing and sending/ uploading
images safety such as a profile picture on
Facebook.
Advantage One of the advantages of using JPEG is
that the file recognised by nearly every
device. Which means that it is able to
show all of the images saved on the JPEG
file more easily for different users.
Disadvantage One of the disadvantages of using a JPEG
file is that it loses quality quickly if it
continuously being edited. This can result
in the image becoming distorted over
time.

6. TIFF
Stands For Tagged Image File Format
Used For/Example TIFF files are used for storing multiple
page documents.
Advantage One of the advantages of using a TIFF file
is that it won’t lose quality after being
edited. This makes it the best type of file
to work with when working on a large
scale project.
Disadvantage One of the disadvantages of using a TIFF
file is that the file sizes can become very
large making storage minimal. As well as
TIFF files can’t be opened on all devices.

7. GIF
Stands For Graphics Interchange Format
Used For/Example GIF files are used to create short digital
animations.
Advantage An advantage of using a GIF file is that it
can be used to create a series of images
which can be played on a loop to give the
appearance of movement creating a short
animation. This makes GIF files useful for
those needing to make short animations.
Disadvantage A disadvantage of using GIF files is that the
images are of very low quality, making the
images used to make the short animation
look distorted.

8. BMP
Stands For Bitmap Image File
Used For/Example BMP files are used for similar uses of a
TIFF and JPEG file. Such as storing images
and document.
Advantage An advantage of using a BMP file is that
there is no loss of compression making
them very useful to those working on
images that are needed to have high
quality.
Disadvantage A disadvantage of using a BMP file is that
they have a high file size. This makes it
difficult to store multiple files from a BMP
file.

9. Vector Graphics

10. PSD
Stands For Photoshop Document
Used For/Example PSD documents are used when creating
the front covers of magazines and other
types of images.
Advantage One of the advantages of using a PSD is
that they can make high quality images
which can be heavily manipulated.
Disadvantage A disadvantage of using a PSD file is that in
order to access or work/ edit on the file
you will need the Photoshop software to
do so making it very restricting to access if
you don’t.

11. AI
Stands For Adobe Illustrator Art
Used For/Example AI files are used to create logos and other
images in digital art.
Advantage An advantage of using a AI file is that the
images created can be adjusted and
rescaled. Making it good for business users
because they can transfer their business
logo from a business card to something
larger like a shop sign.
Disadvantage A disadvantage to using a AI file is that
there is some skill required when creating
images on it.

12. FLA
Stands For Flash File
Used For/Example A FLA format is used to create animations
or video games.
Advantage An advantage to using a FLA file type is
that the files created can be of high quality
with small file sizes.
Disadvantage A disadvantage to using a FLA file is that
FLA files aren’t as powerful as other
formats.

13. WMF
Stands For Windows Metafile
Used For/Example WMF files are similar to an AI file meaning
it can be used to create logos and other
digital art.
Advantage An advantage to using a WMF file is that it
can be adjusted and rescales to suit the
users needs for things such as smaller
projects like business cards.
Disadvantage A disadvantage to using a WMF file type is
that it can’t be used on all devices because
it isn’t recognised on all devices. Making it
quite restricting to use.

14. File Format Capture
and Optimising

15. Compression
Definition Compression is when an image is closed
and saved in a certain type of format and
compression reduces the amount of space
that file will take up.
Advantage An advantage of compression is that the it
reduces the size of the file saved meaning
it won’t take up as much storage allowing
more files to be saved.
Disadvantage A disadvantage of compression is that
once said information is saved and
reopened some of the information can be
lost.

16. Image Capture
Method Scanner
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
A scanner is used to make a physical copy
of an image and then transfers it to be a
digital copy which can then be edited.
Method Camera
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
A camera is used to take images in
different locations and on different
subjects. Said images that are captured
can be printed or transferred onto a
computer for post production.
Method Graphics Tablet
How is it used for image capture of
graphics
A graphics tablet is used to control the
mouse used in an advanced way. These
images are created digitally and can later
be edited.

17. Optimising
Why would you optimise? One of the reasons to why you optimise an
image is that you may want said image to
be viewed on the Internet. When
optimising the image is allows it to be
easily viewed without a long wait for them
to be viewed.
How can you optimise? One of the ways you can optimise an
image is by reducing the Bitmap depth.
This means you will be reducing the
amount of colours within said image.
Advantage to optimising An advantage of optimising is that it allows
people to view your images online without
a long wait for the images to load.
Disadvantage to optimising A disadvantage to optimising is that the
images may lose some of it’s quality
compared to the original image(s) when
uploaded.

18. Storage

19. File Size
What could affect a Working Scale
(Photoshop) document file size?
One of the things that will effect the file
size are the aspects within the document
saved such as images and shaped used to
edit the image.
How could you reduce the file size of a
Working Scale document without
affecting quality?
One way to reduce the file size is by
optimising the image by reducing the
images bit depth.
What is an advantage of scaling up images
before exporting?
An advantage of scaling up an image
before exporting the file is that it can be
used for easy viewing if saved as a JPEG or
another file type.
What is a disadvantage of scaling up
images before exporting?
A disadvantage of scaling up an image
before exporting the image is that it could
become distorted and pixilated. And if the
image is saved as a JPEG it may not be able
to be changed.

20. File Naming Conventions
What naming conventions could you use
when creating your video game assets?
Something that can be done when naming
files is to make sure that the files are
clearly named to what they are and what
they hold. Such as the characters name
and what view they are at (front, side,
etc.) Doing this makes it easier to find the
files needed and they won’t get lost when
looking for them.
Why is it a good idea to accurately name
your assets?
It’s a good idea to accurately name your
files because it reduces the chances of
losing your work. So saving them under
multiple files either separate from one
another or adding more files within files to
get to a certain document if they’re
slightly similar to not mix them up. This
helps reduce losing your work and you
won’t lose time looking for them.

21. Asset Management
Why would you use folders when storing
your assets?
Using folders when storing your work
helps organise all of your files and makes
them easier to find. And naming the
folders correctly helps organise them even
more and keeps all of your work safe.
What folders would you create and what
would you save within them
When creating folders I create one for one
topic that holds multiple for said topic. The
folders within the one for the topic are
linked to the different aspects to the topic.
Within these other folders can be more
folders to separate work that can be
similar, or different, so they don’t get
mixed up together in one larger file. This
make it easier and quicker to find what is
needed and saved the possible lose of a
document.