Computer graphics what is it? Types of computer graphics

In the age of information technology, computer graphics has become widespread throughout the world. Why is it so popular? Where is it applied? And anyway, what is computer graphics? Let's figure it out!

Computer graphics: what is it?

The simplest thing is science. In addition, this is one of the sections of informatics. He studies the ways of processing and formatting a graphic image using a computer.

Computer graphics lessons today exist in schools and higher education institutions. And it is difficult today to find an area where it would not be in demand.

Also to the question: "What is computer graphics?" - you can answer that this is one of many areas of computer science and, in addition, refers to the youngest: it exists for about forty years. Like any other science, it has its own specific object, goals, methods and tasks.

What tasks does computer graphics solve?

If we consider this section of informatics in a broad sense, we can see that the computer graphics tools can solve the following three types of tasks:

1) Translation of the verbal description into a graphic representation.

2) The task of pattern recognition, that is, the translation of the picture into a description.

3) Editing graphic images.

Directions of computer graphics

Despite the fact that the field of application of this field of computer science is unquestionably extremely wide, it is possible to single out the main directions of computer graphics, where it has become an important means of solving emerging problems.

First, an illustrative direction. It is the widest of all, as it covers tasks ranging from simple visualization of data to the creation of animated films.

Secondly, a self-developing direction: computer graphics, the topics and possibilities of which are truly limitless, allows you to expand and improve your skills.

Third, the research direction. It includes an image of abstract concepts. That is, the use of computer graphics is aimed at creating an image of what does not have a physical analog. What for? Typically, in order to show the model for clarity, or to track the change in parameters and adjust them.

What kinds of computer graphics exist?

Once again: what is computer graphics? This is a section of computer science that studies the ways and means of processing and creating a graphic image using technology. There are four types of computer graphics, despite the fact that to process images using a computer there is a huge number of different programs. This is raster, vector, fractal and 3-D graphics.

What are their distinguishing features? First and foremost, the types of computer graphics differ according to the principles of illustration formation when displayed on paper or on a monitor screen.

Raster graphics

The base element of a bitmap image or illustration is a point. Provided that the picture is on the screen, the point is called a pixel. Each of the pixels of the image has its own parameters: the color and the arrangement on the canvas. Of course, the smaller the pixel sizes and the larger the number, the better the picture looks.

The main problem with a raster image is large amounts of data.

The second drawback of raster graphics is the need to enlarge the picture in order to view the details.

In addition, with a strong increase, the image is pixelated, that is, dividing it into pixels, which largely distorts the picture.

Vector graphics

The elementary component of vector graphics is the line. Naturally, there are lines in the raster graphics, but they are considered as a collection of points. And in the vector graphics, everything that is drawn is a collection of lines.

This type of computer graphics is ideal for storing high-precision images, such as, for example, drawings and diagrams.

Information in the file is stored not as a graphic image, but in the form of coordinates of points, with which the program recreates the picture.

Accordingly, for each of the points of the line, one of the memory cells is reserved. It should be noted that in vector graphics the amount of memory occupied by one object remains unchanged, and also does not depend on its size and length. Why is this happening? Because the line in the vector graphics is specified in the form of several parameters, or, more simply, a formula. Whatever we do with it in the future, only the parameters of the object will change in the memory cell. The number of memory cells remains the same.

Thus, we can conclude that vector files, in comparison with raster, take much less memory.

Three-dimensional graphics

3D-graphics, or three-dimensional graphics, studies methods and techniques for creating 3D models of objects, most appropriate to the real. Such images can be viewed from all sides.

Smooth surfaces and a variety of graphic shapes are used to create voluminous illustrations. With their help, the artist creates at first a skeleton of the future object, and then the surface is covered with materials that visually resemble real ones. Further, gravity, clarification, atmospheric properties and other parameters of the space in which the imaged object is located are made. Then, provided that the object moves, set the trajectory of motion and its speed.

Fractal graphics

A fractal is a pattern consisting of identical elements. A large number of images are fractals. For example, the snowflake of Koch, the Mandelbrot set, the Sierpinsky triangle, and the Harter-Heitchey dragon.

A fractal pattern can be constructed either with the aid of some algorithm, or by automatically creating an image, which is carried out by calculations with the given formulas.

Modification of the image occurs when making changes in the structure of the algorithm or changing the coefficients in the formula.

The main advantage of fractal graphics is that only formulas and algorithms are saved in the image file.

Areas of application of computer graphics

However, it should be noted that the allocation of these directions is very arbitrary. In addition, it can be detailed and expanded.

So, we list the main areas of computer graphics:

1) modeling;

2) designing;

3) display of visual information;

4) creating a user interface.

Where is computer graphics applied?

In engineering programming, three-dimensional computer graphics are widely used. Informatics first came to the aid of engineers and mathematicians. By means of three-dimensional graphics, physical objects and processes are simulated, for example, in animation, computer games and cinematography.

Raster graphics is widely used in the development of polygraphic and multimedia publications. Very rarely, illustrations, which are performed by means of raster graphics, are created manually with computer programs. Often, scanned images are used for this purpose, which the artist made in photographs or paper.

In today's world, digital photo and video cameras are widely used to enter raster photographs into a computer. Accordingly, the vast majority of graphic editors that are designed to work with raster graphics are not focused on creating images, but on editing and processing.

Bitmap images are used on the Internet in the event that there is a need to transfer all the color gamut.

But the programs for working with vector graphics, on the contrary, are most often used for the purpose of creating illustrations, if for processing. Such tools are often used in publishing houses, editorial offices, design bureaus and advertising agencies.

Means of vector graphics are much easier to solve design issues, which are based on the use of simple elements and fonts.

Undoubtedly, there are examples of vector highly artistic works, but they are the exception rather than the rule, for the simple reason that the preparation of illustrations by means of vector graphics is extremely complicated.

To create images automatically using mathematical calculations, software tools are created that work with factorial graphics. It is in programming, and not in design or drawing, that a factorial composition is created. Factorial graphics are rarely used to create an electronic or printed document, but it is often used for entertainment purposes.