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Which Is Better? A Bitmap or Vector Image?
by Tim Donnelly, guest writer
W
Whether you realize it or not, you've probably come into contact with two kinds of computer graphics: vector images and bitmap images. They may look the same but upon closer inspection, you'll find they're quite different. Which is best for your project?

Vector images
Vector artwork is prepared in a vector-drawing program (makes sense) and is based on PostScript code. Using this software, you place vector points on the page and connect them with straight or curved lines. The shapes these lines create can be filled with a color, a gradient, a pattern or nothing at all.

The benefits
The great thing about vector drawings is that they can be edited pretty easily by moving the vector anchor points around. The best thing is that no matter if the image is 1" wide, 1,000" wide or even 1 mile wide, the image will not lose any clarity.

But wait . . .
A vector image uses PostScript code so, vector images will not print well on printers that are not PostScript enabled. Most inkjet printers and many PC printers are not PostScript-enabled.

Bitmap images
Bitmap artwork has been either scanned by a scanner, downloaded from a digital camera or created in an image-editing program like Photoshop. If someone gives you a photo file, it's bitmap image. Most image files that you come into contact, including TIFF, PICT, BMP, WMF, GIF, JPEG and some EPS files, are bitmap images.

monitor with present pictureClarity
Unlike vector graphics, you need to be very aware of the resolution and the size of bitmap images. You can't size bitmap images up or down and expect them to remain as crisp and clear. An image of 72 dots-per-inch (dpi) may look just fine on-screen but won't look good in print. A photo file of 200dpi (at 100%) is sufficient to use for a Word document. If you use anything less, you may start to notice a pixelated appearance or fuzziness.

Which is better?
It all depends on your use. For illustrations or artwork that you'll want to use at all different sizes in print, the ideal choice is a vector image. For photos or for artwork that will only appear on-screen, a bitmap image is your only choice.

My advice
If you can create or request your graphic as vector artwork, I would recommend going that way. Then, if you need to use it in a presentation, print it on a non-PostScript enabled printer or display it on the Web, you can easily convert it with a vector or bitmap-editing program. slug

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