Graphics+and+Animations

= __Graphics and Animation__ =

**__Description of topic:__**
__**Graphics:**__ The term computer graphics has been used to describe "almost everything on computers that is not text or sound". Graphics are created by computers and refers to any computer device or program that makes a computer capable of displaying and manipulating pictures. There are two types of graphics, the bitmapped and the vector graphics. Each type of graphic has its advantages and disadvantages:


 * = **Bitmapped graphics /Raster Graphics** ||||= **Object-oriented graphics/Vector graphics** ||
 * = **Advantages** ||= **Disadvantages** ||= **Advantages** ||= **Disadvantages** ||
 * It enables you to have a complete control over textures, shading and fine detail. || For images to look good, it is needed a high resolution and colour depth, hence for saving it, it is needed a lot of memory. || Vector graphics are scalable; this means they can be can be resized and stretched without distortion. || The vector format is not appropriate for rendering photo-realistic images ||
 * High resolution images are formed because of how many pixels are used but when printed, pixels are not seen by the human eye. || The colour depth in not manipulated in bitmapped graphics, limiting an artist’s ability to create a realistic on-screen images. || Vector graphics files are usually much smaller than bitmap files and thus use less memory in storage. ||  ||
 * || Resolution makes, as well as the colour depth, limit the realism of the image. || The user is able to manipulate certain objects without affecting other objects around it even if these objects are overlapping. ||  ||

Computer animation is the art of creating moving images by displaying a series of pictures of frames.. Animation gives life to multimedia product. Cartoons on television is one example of animation. (Definitions from Wikipedia and Webopedia)
 * __Animation:__**

**__Vocabulary:__**

 * **Term** || **Definition** || **Source** ||
 * Bitmapped or raster graphics || These are images which are stored as a collection of pixels. || Tomorrow's Technology and You ||
 * Vector or object-oriented graphics || Storage of pictures as a collection of lines, shapes or other objects instead of pixels. || Tomorrow's Technology and You ||
 * Gray-scale graphics || Allows each pixel to appear as black, white or one several shades of gray. || Tomorrow's Technology and You ||
 * Resolution || Sharpness and clarity of an image. The density of pixles-more dpi, gives a better resolution. || Webopedia ||
 * Colour depth || The number of bits by pixel. Each bit shows a number of colours, if there are more bits, more colours are shown making the image more realistic. || Graphics Academy ||
 * Pixels || A single point in a graphic image || Webopedia ||
 * Pixels per inch (ppi) || Measurement of image resolution that defines the size an image will print. || About.com ||
 * Dots per inch (dpi) || The resolution of a printing device. || About.com ||
 * Frames || Individual pictures in a sequence of images. || TeachTerms ||
 * Keyframes || A drawing that defines the starting and ending points of any smooth transition. || Wikipedia ||
 * Interpolate or tween || Is the process in which is generated intermediate frames between two images to give the appearance that the first image evolves smoothly into the second image. || Webopedia ||
 * Avars (animation variable) || A variable controlling the position of part of an animated object, such as the character. || Wikipedia ||
 * Sprite || A graphic image that can move within a larger graphic. || Webopedia ||

__**Examples**__
Example of a vector and bitmapped graphic: The first one is a vector graphic and the one below, is a bitmapped graphic. Source: Google Example of an animation .gif of a 2D flash animation: Source: Wikipedia

__**Graphics Formats:**__
.bmp, .dib, jpeg, gif, tiff, .png .cgm, .svg, .odg, .eps, .xml
 * Bitmap graphics:**
 * Vector Graphics:**

__**Animation Formats:**__
.jpeg, .mpeg, .avi, .gif, .swf, .mov

__**Graphics:**__
__Open Source Softwares:__(available in source code form) __Proprietary Softwares__ (computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of its owner) Commercial: Freeware (no cost or for an optional fee): __Open Source Softwares:__ __Proprietary Softwares__
 * Bitmapped graphics:**
 * GIMP
 * DigiKam
 * Krita
 * Pinta
 * KolourPaint
 * Tux Paint
 * GrafX2
 * Adobe Photoshop
 * Corel Painter
 * Pixel Image Editor
 * PhotoPerfect
 * Pixelmator
 * RealWorld Photos
 * TVPaint
 * Artweaver
 * Pixia
 * Paint.NET
 * IrfanView
 * Vector Graphics:**
 * Inkscape
 * Ipe
 * Karbon 14
 * OpenOffice.org Draw
 * Sodipodi
 * Xara Xtreme for Linux
 * Adobe Illustrator
 * Adobe Fireworks
 * CorelDRAW
 * Xara Xrteme

**__Animation:__**

 * Adobe Flash
 * Toon Boom
 * Toufee
 * Anime Studio
 * SWiSH

__**Tricky questions:**__
Are the vector graphics better than bitmapped graphics? Which type of graphics is heavier?

__**Interesting facts:**__
__**Sources:**__ [] [] [] [] []
 * In an animation, dialogue is recorded before any scene is animated.
 * Due to the enormous complexity of the human body, realistic simulation of humans remains largely an open problem. Another problem which makes the realistic simulation of humans not possible is the psychological response of nearly perfect animation of humans, known as "the uncanny valley" causing a response of revultion among humans.