Image Data Representations

Definition:At the most basic level, there are two different ways of encoding the contents of a 2-D image in digital format: raster (also known as bitmap) and vector.

Images are represented in digital format in a wide variety of ways. At the most basic level, there are two different ways of encoding the contents of a 2-D image in digital format: raster (also known as bitmap) and vector. Bitmap representations use one or more two-dimensional arrays of pixels (picture elements), whereas vector representations use a series of drawing commands to represent an image. Each encoding method has its pros and cons: the greatest advantages of bitmap graphics are their quality and display speed; its main disadvantages include larger memory storage requirements and size dependence (e.g., enlarging a bitmap image may lead to noticeable artifacts). In either case, there is no such a thing as a perfect digital representation of an image. Artifacts due to finite resolution, color mapping, and many...