Lesson 3: Working with Images

Microsoft Paint

Image – a visual representation of something that you see in real life.

Graphics – may refer to the process by which computer display images.

Vector Graphics – composed of mathematical formulas that represent images. They are not dependent on their original resolution and are flexible to be scaled in many different ways without affecting their final resolution.

Raster graphics – also known as “bitmapped graphics”; image information rendered as pixels.

Pixels – highly dependent on their original resolution

Meta format images – are file formats that can be used by different applications. They accommodate both vector and raster information.

Image Manipulation – editing or adjusting an image’s size, shape and color settings

Image Programs – software used to acquire, manipulate and store digital images

Resampling – changing an image’s resolution

Example of Vector Graphics Example of Raster Graphics Example of Meta Format Image

JPEG or JPG – acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group. A file format with a lossy compression, meaning it allows for some data loss for a smaller file size. It compresses grayscale and color information but allows for images to be displayed in 16,000,000 colors.

GIF– acronym for Graphics Interchange Format. A file format with a lossless compression, meaning there is no data lost in the compression. GIF is preferred for images only a few colors (GIF only allows for 256 colors) like black and white images. It also supports animation.

PNG– acronym for Portable Network Graphics. A file that takes off from the transparency capabilities of GIF, primarily developed due to GIF’s licensing requirement. It does not, however, have animation capabilities.

TIFF– acronym for Tagged Image File Format. A file format that is a flexible bitmap image supported by many software. It is commonly recommended by professional printers since it is supported by most press machines. It has a much larger file size compared to JPEG and GIF.

BMP– also knows as bitmap. The standard Windows file format on DOS and Windows compatible platforms. It has a loseless compression.

Resolution - is the clarity of an image that is measured by dots per inch (dpi).

Scanner – piece of hardware that converts light reflected from the object being scanned and creates a digital image of the object.

The Microsoft Paint Tools

Free-Form Select – select in free formColor Eraser – erase a sectionPick Color – pick a colorPencil – draw with a pencilAirbrush - color with an airbrushLine – draw a lineRectangle – draw a rectangleEllipse – draw an ellipseSelect – select an imageFill with Color – fill a section with colorMagnifier – zooms in on an imageBrush – color with a brushText – write a phraseCurve– draw a curvePolygon– draw a polygonRounded Rectangle – draw a rounded rectangle