week 3 -angeline,gayatheri

difference between vector and bitmap graphics

Graphic images that have been process by computer can be divided into two that are bitmap graphic and vector graphic.Vector graphics are drawn to the computer screen using lines that is described by the location two endpoint using Cartesan coordinates.

While,Bitmap is a simple information matrix describing individual dots that sare the smallest elements of resolutions of a computer screen or other display or printing devices. Generally bitmap graphics are images that are scanned into the computer or taken by a camera but drawings made by Illustrator software are saved as vector graphics.

Bitmap graphics are more concentrated on colours and have higher resolution.On the other hand, vector graphics are easy to scale without losing it's quality because of it's low resolution.

Background
bitmap graphics are suitable to be use in this area as it is more colourful and presentable. In the coporate world, bitmap graphics are used as presentation background as it is more professional.

Buttons
For buttons vector graphics are better to be used as it is low in resolution and loads faster than bitmap graphics.

Icons
vector graphics are better to be used in icons as it is low in resolution . And vector graphic is easier to load plus it's size can be adjusted without losing it's image quality or resolution.

Texts
vector graphics are used in text because text are simple graphics.And it only needs low resolution to show it's purpose

week 3 -sarah,sam,daniel

The difference between a bitmap and vector graphic is that the bitmap tool is used to capture screen images and scanning images. On the other hand, the vector graphics is used for 2-D and 3-D drawings.

The different graphic elements like, bitmap and vector tool is designated for different uses for example, on backgrounds, buttons, icons, or text. The bitmap tool is applied on backgrounds because the picture elements, known as pixels are used to store the color information that represent varying shades of color and vector is not designed to do that.

For buttons as well as icons, the vector tool is used to give clarity to it's shape so that quality can be shown, otherwise the icon or button may appear shabby. Lastly, the vector tool once again is used on text so that no matter what font size is being used, the text is still clear.

week 3 -adriel,amanda,nicole

All image files can be categorized into two kinds, Bitmap and Vector graphics. These two differs in the way computers analyze their content.

Bitmap graphics are mapped into a grid. The size of the grid is based on the image's resolution. For example, a bitmap-based image of 1 inch x 1 inch with a 600 dpi resolution would be defined by a grid of 600 x 600 pixels. Hence, a bitmap-based image is like a mosaic of pixels with each pixel holding a specific color value. Bitmap are more suitable for photo-realistic images that require complex color variations. Each bitmap-based image is mapped to a non-flexible grid therefore it is not scalable. If a bitmap-based image were to be enlarged, it would lose its sharpness. All edges within the image would appear to be jagged and appear lossy. File names for bitmap-based images usually consist of extensions such as *.PSD, *.JPG, *GIF, *.TIF, or *.BMP.

Vector graphics generally contain well-defined elements such as curves and shapes of various colors. These elements can either be pure graphics, western alphabets or Asian characters. Each element is defined mathematically by the computer. For example, if a vector-based image contains a red dot, then information such as the location of the circle's center point, the length of its radius, and the color, red, would be the essential information for this image file. File names for vector-based images usually consist of extensions such as *.EPS, *.AI, *CDR, or *.DWG.

The advantages of bitmap are that you can make and edit much more detailed images and restoring an image from disk requires very little computation. However it requires more computer memory for file storage while vector objects require less storage than bitmap, scale and rotate with very little loss of detail and manipulate each object separately, even when on the same layer. Vector is unable to display photo-realistic images such as a photograph because images of this type generally do not contain well-defined shapes and curves. Vector is more suitable for illustration that require precise measurements as images appear lossless.
As for the five different graphic elements we might use in a project, which is for example-creating a web page, it includes a background for the web page, a header, a site map, navigations like drop downs and links, buttons and icons and also text and graphic images. Images like group photos of web design team or an illustration photo will be created using Bitmaps. Bitmaps also help create icons and buttons needed. Meanwhile, vectors will help us create legible fonts, text and numbers that will attract viewers and audience.

So for the background, buttons, and icons, the sensible choice would be to use bitmap images. This is because background images are already in bitmap images and to convert it to vector images would not only be useless but it will also lose its quality. As background pictures must be clear, quality cannot be compromised.

As for the buttons and icons both will be in bitmap. However, for buttons vector images can also be used. But for this project a bitmap graphic would be better suited because when in a webpage, graphics that seem real are more susceptible to be seen as buttons that can be clicked on as opposed to vector graphics that though may be used as buttons may not lead users to believe it is clickable. Icons will also utilize bitmap graphics as it adds more depth and realism into it for those that will be seeing and interacting with them; which in essence is what icons need to convey above all. An icon that is a vector graphic may not be as convincing as it not as clear.

As for text vector graphics will be used. Texts within a webpage are the content, meaning they are what you are trying to communicate to users. As such they cannot be fancy and too flashy in style like the background or the icons. They must look normal and to have them as bitmap graphics will not be suitable as it will make the webpage bigger in size which which consequently means longer load time for users who view the page.

week 3 -sim pin,canaan,alvin

Difference between bitmap and vector graphics
Bitmap

1. a simple information matrix describing individual dots that are the smallest elements or resolution of computer screen and display.
2. Be created by using bitmap painting and editing software.
3. Provide tools for art effects, including Corel Photopaint, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft Photo Editor.

Vector

1. a drawn object described and drawn to the computer screen by using line that is described by location two endpoint.
2. Be created by using vector drawing software.
3. 2 types vector drawings, such as 2D and 3D drawings, including CorelDraw and Macromedia Freehand.
   

Describe different graphic elements
Background – Bitmap
The shades of color in bitmap pictures are depending on the numbers of bit required to carry the color information.

Buttons – Vector
Vector drawings can be made up of many individual lines and objects.

Icons – Vector
Vector objects are easily scalable without losing resolution or image quality.

Text – Bitmap
The images consists of a matrix of individual dots or pixels that all have their own color.

week 3 -Facilitator

Vector and Bitmaps

The follwing links are the answers for week 3 assessment

The differences between bitmap and vector graphics
http://www.prepressure.com/image/bitmapvector.htm
http://www.prepressure.com/image/bitmapvector2.htm
http://www.eastbywest.com/pub/vectorbitmap/

Four different graphic elements

Background-Bitmap files are more suitable for photo-realistic images that require complex color variations, and it shows more details.

Buttons- For web buttons, vector files are more suitable. It is because of the size of vector graphic is much more smaller compare to bitmap graphics.

Icons-Vector files are easy to be create and it is scalable without losing its quality.

Text-Vector files are more suitable for text illustrations that require precise measurements (lines, curves, boxes and shapes)


Extra notes (From "Multimedia:Making It Work" 6th edition, by Tay Vaughan)

The capabilities and limitations of bitmap images

1. Bitmaps are an image type most appropriate for photo-realistic images and complex drawings requiring fine details
2. Limitation of bitmapped images include large files sizes and the inability to scale or resize the image easily while maintaining quality
3. A bitmap is a simple information matrix describing the individual dots of an image, called pixels
4. The image’s bit-depth determines the number of colors that can be displayed by an individual pixel
5. You can grab a bitmap image from a screen, scan it with a scanner, download it from a website, or capture it from a video capture device
6. You can then manipulate and adjust many of its properties, and cut and paste among many bitmaps using specialized image-editing programs
7. When you import a color or gray-scale bitmap from the Macintosh to Windows, the colors will seem darker and richer

The capabilities and the limitations of vector images

1. Vector images are most appropriate for lines, boxes, circles, polygons, and other graphic shapes that can be mathematically expressed in angles, coordinates, and distances
2. A vector object can be filled with color and patterns, and you can select it as a single object
3. Vector-drawn objects use a fraction of the memory space required to describe and store the same object in bitmap form
4. For the Web, pages that use vector graphics in plug-ins such as Flash download faster and, when used for animation, draw faster than bitmaps
5. Most drawing programs can export a vector drawing as a bitmap
6. Converting bitmaps to vector-drawn objects is difficult; however, autotracing programs can compute the bounds of shapes and colors in bitmapped images and then derive the polygon object that describes those bounds
7. Vector images require a plug-in (such as a Flash player) for display on a web page
8. Vector images cannot be used for photo-realistic images

week 3 assessment

Discuss the difference between bitmap and vector graphics. Describe four different graphic elements you might use in a project, for example, the background, buttons, icons, or text. Would you use a vector tool or a bitmap tool for each element? Why?

week 2- sim pin,alvin,canaan

There are many font design software packages which are commonly used nowadays. One of the popular font design software is Font Creator. The latest version of this software is Font Creator Home Edition 5.0.

Font Creator Home Edition 5.0 is a powerful application that puts font creation within the grasp of the average. This is suitable for the PC user, graphic designers, and typographers. This software gives you all the tools you need to make new fonts and edit existing fonts. Users can make their own handwriting font or add signatures, logos, and symbols to existing fonts.

MainType is one of the function in Font Creator Home Edition 5.0. It is the only drag and drop font manager. It offers a straightforward and easy-to-use interface to help you find, preview, organize, install, and print the fonts. MainType can also helps the users in saving time because it is the fastest and easiest way to maintain the fonts.

Another functions in this software are useful too. For example, the editor allows users easily to select and modify the entire charavter set of any TrueType font and fonts based on OpenType font technology. This function includes the ability to convert images to outlines. Thus, it enable users to create fonts with their own signature, logo, and handwriting.

Few of new contour operations are provided, like union, intersection, exclusion, and knife. These operations greatly simplify and speed up the design process. Besides, other new features include the ablility to add selected characters or entire character sets with their mappings. It is used to automically calculate ascender and decender values and to show comparison glyphs in the glyph edit window also. This feature can complete over a thousand characters in a few seconds.

Font Creator Home Edition 5.0 is popular nowadays. The advanced validation features make the design process easy and help you avoid common mistakes. Font Creator provided the tools for the users. For those who wants to create and distribute royalty-free fonts, a designer who needs a unique font, a business person who needs to add a euro sign, logo, or signature to an existing font, or a home user who wants to make a font based on their own handwriting.

week 2 -sarah,sam,daniel

Font choices these days have become so overused and limited. Why settle for boring fonts when you can design and add your own flavor into a font? Font software packages have been made available so that you can simply play around with a font or create a completely new font designs from scratch.

To start of with the basic editing software, the Type Tool software could be the one. With this, creating new fonts or modifying existing fonts can be made easier with features such as font info, which is a dialog that gives access to various font properties such as menu and family names, supported codepages or line spacing metrics. The edit outline glyphs also uses more than intuitive 20 tools compared to other software. By its feature of the Open Type font with up to 65, 000 glyphs, students, hobby typographers and creative professionals can now find an alternative to make font designing easier.

A slightly more advanced font editing software that is popularly used by most font designers these days is the latest font editor, Fontographer. This software is commonly used because of its user friendliness and for that, it wouldn’t be a problem for beginners despite of its advancement. Some software take a very long time to render, but worry no more because Fontographer features real-time rendering. It lets you design, edit, and manipulate fonts in a variety of editing windows. You can even specify, view and print because of its typographical precision, which includes snap-to-guides and snap-to-points. This software package is highly rated and recommended by top software critiques.

Then there is the AsiaFont Studio editing software. This software is a two-byte font editor. With it, you can create Japanese and various Chinese fonts, and other multilingual Uni-code OpenType based fonts as well. This software allows you to work up till 65,000+ glyphs and it has access to 100,000+ Unicode characters. With features such as Vector Paint tools, it allows you to quickly and easily draw out new characters and import up to 64,000 characters. This software has been programmed to work best with any Microsoft Windows computers, thus being flexible on the job and whenever its needed.

These are just three out of many fonts editing software that is available in the market. As you know, fonts make all the difference in giving any publication the right feel. There’s nothing like a great font to capture the reader’s attention and excite them the way you want to. These software programs are created to do exactly that. They open doors to creating and painting out a brilliant world of fonts of your own.

week 2 -eric,rana,chum yeap

TypeTool is our basic font editor for Mac OS and for Windows. For students, hobby typographers and creative professionals who occasionally need to create or customize fonts. It's released in March 2007 includes support for OpenType fonts with up to 65,000 glyphs, Unicode 5.0 support, new bitmap Background and outline Mask layers, improved Bézier drawing with open contours and tangent points, multi-line metrics and kerning editing, superb screen quality autohinting, better printouts, and much more. Create new fonts or modify existing fonts, open any fonts installed on your system. Open and generate PostScript Type 1 and TrueType fonts.
Professional-quality fonts and industry-standard font technology: the engine of TypeTool is based on FontLab Studio, the professional font editor used by numerous font foundries worldwide.

Design logos, signatures, ligatures, old-style figures, fractions, currency symbols, punctuation or international characters to your fonts.Make your own text fonts as well as dingbat or clipart fonts.Easy-to-use intuitive user interface with high-quality smooth glyph display.Edit outline glyphs using more than intuitive 20 tools. Industry-standard Bézier drawing tools familiar to users of Fontographer, Adobe Illustrator or Freehand. VectorPaint tools for realistic bitmap-like outline editing using shaped brush strokes. Precise glyph measurement with the Meter mode ruler.

Place reference outlines into the Mask layer .Lock any layer to prevent accidental modification of outline or metrics. Metrics and Kerning window for automatic or manual spacing and kerning with multi-line preview, right-to-left support and AFM/PFM metric import/export. Import and export individual glyphs in EPS format, copy-paste exchange with Adobe Illustrator.

Font Info dialog gives you access to various font properties such as menu and family names, supported codepages or linespacing metrics. Rearrange, rename or re-encode glyphs using two encoding modes with an unlimited number of encoding tables and codepages. Compatible with the entire codepoint range of the Unicode Standard 5.0, including double-byte (BMP) and four-byte non-BMP codepoints beyond U+FFFF .

Easy navigation in large multilingual or Asian fonts with the Font Map panel. Excellent screen quality for all generated fonts due to automatic Type 1 and TrueType hinting with Flex Type 1 hint support. Minimal modifications possible: preserve the original screen hinting and the original OpenType Layout tables as long as glyphs are not modified by the user .Versatile sample and preview printing of fonts and individual glyphs.Redesigned preferences; save, open and exchange preference profiles.Uses VFB file format compatible with FontLab Studio, BitFonter 3, ScanFont and TransType.

week 2- adriel,nicole,amanda

There are many font design softwares out there on the market. Each and everyone does basically the same thing- it designs fonts. The difference is the features that are given to users. Some may give only basic requirements while others may equip users with more freedom and power in designing and even editing fonts as they like. Here are some of the softwares that are out there on the web:

FontTwister 1.2 is a Font Software product from neuber.com. FontTwister is perhaps the fastest and easiest way to create dazzling text effects. FontTwister comes with an impressive selection of templates for graphic styles, color gradients, textures, shapes, letter edges, 3-D bevels, shadows, buttons and frames. Simple intuitive controls let you interactively real-time view and select your desired effect while you can reedit text and effects at any time. The effect generator creates unlimited variations of amazing text effects. You are able to use high impact, anti-aliased text for logos, 2D and 3D headings in letters, presentations, flyers, invitations, cards, faxes, posters, web graphics, labels, banners, buttons, covers.

My fonts 3.01 is another font design software from mytools.com. This software allows you the freedom of color printing font specimen sheets and it even has support for large-screen monitors. Another plus of this software is that it allows users to preview fonts, even those that are not installed into their computers as well as being able to install or uninstall fonts individually or in 'Fontpacks'. In addition to that it also supports TrueType and Postscript fonts along with printing pro-quality specimen sheets.
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One other software would be that of CrossFont 5.0 which is a Font Software product from asy.com. The software provides feature such added font preview ability to font info window; a new password systems that enables better security; it also supports Vista; and there is the option of recreating input parent folder on output. For example, CrossFont enables you to convert TrueType and PostScript Type1 fonts between Windows PC and Macintosh platforms and also convert Type 1 fonts to OpenType. Besides that, CrossFont 5.0 is able to automatically recognize supported fotn types and import compatible fonts from an entire folder.Besides providing features such as mentioned, CrossFont is able to fix bug where unsupported formats were recognized as a supported format; fix bugs where valid font files were not recognizd; and there is the option of saving rewritten to alleviate certain problems.

week 2 assessment

Write a one-page essay summarising popular font design software packages and their features.

week 1- sarah,samuel,daniel

To produce a military training simulation program, there are five elements that play a part. Text, graphics, animation, sound, and video.

1. Text- To provide information to the user in various forms: Instructions, Menu, Status, etc...
- As solid instructions and coordinates the group's destination.

2. Graphics- Is everything. To identify visual details, background, color, landmarks, different settings or landscapes, and everything that the user will need to identify objects, surroundings, and teamates.

3. Animation - is important for more detailed formation and group behaviour, interactive graphics. Simulation of group response to any elements of hostility- offensive stance, defensive stance, or stealth stance. (so that the viewers are able to understand and visualize the pattern of the appropriate formation in the spur of the combat.)

4. Sound- visuals are not complete without sound effects. Such as quotes, group communication using verbal language or animal imitations to avoid detection when in stealth mode. Able to identify codes from allies or enemies.

5. Video- House recordings, orientation videos (e.g. introduction to game)

week 1- grace,eric,rana

In this age of technology, we are equipped with gadgets and skills of reliving the computer world with the help of multimedia elements.

Mulitmedia elements provide environments and circumstances that can't be found these days like war and diffculties for example. In the air force, flight stimulators are used by military pilots to train to face the problems that can occur during wartime which doesn't exist now. Multimedia elements like animation, video, audio, graphics and text are used to stimulate the environment and produce the outcome which can never be achieved without the help of the multimedia elements.

The video and graphics elements bring forth the visual effects that makes images realistic. For example, 3D animations instilled in the graphics and video will create the best visual effect. All the three elements can be combined to produce the perfect environment optically.

Graphic elements alone could be effective since everything could be synchronized with the still images in which one can also emphasize a certain sense.

Text are useful for giving tips and guide the indvidual under training. Although it doesn't really give the same effects as to the audio and video. It can flash messages on a short notice to compliment or command the trainee.

The audio helps to create the mood and sound effects needed in the training.

As a conclusion, with the complete assistance of multimedia elements, animation, video, audio, graphics and text - nothing is impossible to prepare the trainee for any environment in aid for the future.

week 1- canaan,alvin,sim pin

text - show the details and the information obtain from the result of the simulations.
- example: cost lost in a war, damage or injury of soldiers

graphics - show the situation faced and the scene as it's in a real war.
- the surrounding environment and possible tactics used by own party and enemy.
- help the leader to define his instruction and tactics more details.

animation - put tactics into action and help user to understand what will they faced if they
choose the particular action
- help user to understand how they react to a particular situation.
- help the leader to understand how the tactics work on the war field and the reaction
enemy in any situation.

sound - possible happening and hearing effects of the war

video - recording the simulation for future used.
- to evaluate the video for a better tactics in the next war or time to come.
- to get a better understanding towards the war faced through the Visual Reality

In today's world, military training simulations help the army to build up their war strategy and even test it before they got into the battle field.

The text elements help the general or conductor by showing the details and information obtain from the result of the simulations. For example, the cost lost in a war, the damage or injury of the soldiers.

The graphics elements help the military leadership by showing the situation faced and the scene as it's in a real war. It also show the surrounding environment and possible tactics used by own party and enemy.Besides, it helps them to define his instruction and tactics more details.
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the animation elements help them to put tactics into action and help user to understand what will they faced if they choose the particular action. It also help user to understand how they react to a particular situation. Besides, it can help the leader to understand how the tactics work on the war field and the reaction enemy in any situation.

the sounds help to perform possible happening and hearing effects of the war
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the video elements provide them to record the simulation for future used. Besides, it can be used to evaluate the video for a better tactics in the next war or time to come.Last;y, it can help them to get a better understanding towards the war faced through the Visual Reality

week 1- adriel,amanda,angeline,gayethri

In a military training simulation, almost every element of multimedia tools would be utilized. It perharps differs only in purpose as it aims to further enhance the skills of cadets or students who are looking to further their careers in the military. Meaning that the way it is done may be somewhat similar to a simulation game only that its purpose is not entertainment but education. Here are the elements and how they are implemented:

Text:
Instructions within the simulation world is important, so texts within the simulation world will be responsible for telling users their objectives and probably inform them of how they are doing on the battefield. Examples are accomplished objectives texts that appear after an objective has been met, this also then acts as an encouragement to cadets who are in the simulation world.

Graphics:
Graphics for a simulation such as this would include the background of the battlefield. Meaning things that one would see in the real world are depicted in simulation to give a feel of reality within the simulated battlefield.

Animation:
An enhacement of graphics that allows for interaction with the user's environment. Thus increasing the reality and experience of the process. Examples are like interaction with other users or even reactions with objects within the simulated world like driving a tank or shooting a gun.

Sound:
Sounds here would include all of the sounds you would hear on a battlefield-with commands being given, gun shots, footsteps, explosions, etc. Sound, like animation, increases the experience by adding a sense of reality into the experience.

Video:Videos would be used here by maybe giving users a short intro of real life films before the simulation starts. This then also tries to put users in the feel of being on a real battlefield. By showing them what is real and then putting them in a world that is similar, they would treat the simulation more seriously.

In conclusion, we believe that by incorporating these multimedia elements into the military simulation, it would not only be a good experience for students in the military but even train them for situations and circumstances they will confront on the real battlefield.

week 1 assessment

Write a one-page essay about the roles each of the multimedia elements can play in the production of military training simulations.