Understanding Vector Graphics

     

Flash was originally designed as an animation application to translate old-style, incremental animation to the Web. Given its roots in cel animation, drawing has always been at the core of Flash. Although perhaps not as sexy as the scripting and complex interaction now possible, drawing is still essential to getting the most out of Flash.

Though computer screens always display pixels, computer software can define shapes in two ways: vector and bitmap. A bitmap is defined by a grid of pixels , like tiles forming a mosaic. Bitmaps contain color information for each pixel, plus the dimensions for the image, and define images pixel by pixel. Bitmaps are great for displaying subtle variations in color , such as photographic images. But what if you want to change the size of a bitmap image? Well, you either have to re-create the image at the desired dimensions or stretch the image, usually with undesirable results.

By comparison, vector graphics store a series of commands necessary to create an image through the use of elements such as lines, curves and fills. The commands, called vectors , dictate element attributes such as thickness , direction, color, and position, which your computer then calculates. Vector graphics allow for much finer detail and can be resized without losing definition, just by revising the formulas in the vectors. When you edit a vector graphic, you can simply change the attributes of the elements that make up the graphic. Vector graphics are best for displaying simple shapes with flat areas of color, such as icons, logos, and cartoon-style drawings.

A Flash movie can display both vector and bitmap graphics, but vectors have smaller file sizes, and the Flash Player can draw them more quickly and efficiently . Bitmap file size and download time are directly tied to an image's dimensions. With vector graphics, file size and rendering speed are determined by the complexity of the instructions, not the size of the graphic.



Using Macromedia Studio MX 2004
Special Edition Using Macromedia Studio MX 2004
ISBN: 0789730421
EAN: 2147483647
Year: N/A
Pages: 339

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