Bitmap image
Unlike a vector image which stores the mathematical instructions for how to draw the image, a bitmap image (which we sometimes call a ‘raster image’) stores the image as a grid of pixels, where each pixel has a specific color value.
Think of it like a big table, each containing a code which corresponds to a specific colour.
For example, if we have a 3x3 bitmap image, it might look something like this:
R G B
G R G
B G R
(where I’m using R G and B to represent colours which can be drawn).
Metadata
Bitmap images are a grid of pixels, but how does the computer know how many rows and columns there are?
That’s stored in the metadata. See bitmap metadata for more details!
flashcards
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is a bitmap (raster) image? | It stores the image as a grid of pixels, where each pixel has a specific color value, unlike a vector image which stores mathematical instructions. |
| How does a computer know the number of rows and columns in a bitmap image? | That information is stored in the metadata (see bitmap metadata). |