Bitmap and Vector Images

Bitmap and Vector Images:
BITMAP – or raster images are made up of pixels in a grid. Resolution is determined by the grid – 72 dots per inch is 72 dpi. that means there are 72 dots within one square inch. 300 dpi means 300 dots within one square inch. Computer monitors display 72 dpi or 96 dpi. Your desktop colour printer prints about 150 dots per inch. Newspapers are printed at 200-300 dpi. Magazines are much higher – 300-600 dpi. Common bitmap formats are jpg, png, tiff Some formats support transparent backgrounds – GIF and PNG. Others have opaque (non see through) backgrounds.

VECTOR – Vector images are made up of many individual, scalable objects. These objects are defined by mathematical equations rather than pixels, so they always render at the highest quality. A vector image can be reduced to a postage stamp or enlarged to a billboard without loosing any quality.
Objects may consist of lines, curves, and shapes with editable attributes such as color, fill, and outline.Shapes are formed with handles. Most vector images are created from scratch using programs such as Adobe Illustrator. Vector images can be converted to bitmap images.