3. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Alyx Entwistle
4. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Vector & Raster Images
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VECTOR IMAGES This is the difference between
vector and raster images
- Vector art only has one format, which is .EPS.
- Vector and bitmap differ in the way they are stored in the art files. Vector saves the image as lines with coordinates of
their starting and ending points. This creates simple images, and research has demonstrated that this is the way the human
brain sees and stores images.
-Vector art is easier for a computer to save than bitmap images and takes up less space on a file, which is likely why the
brain saves images in the same way. In fact, a poster-sized image saved as vector art will only take up a few kilobytes of
memory. The same image saved with medium resolution may not even fit on one CD-ROM as a raster image.
RASTER IMAGES
- A raster image can also be called a bitmap image.
- The raster image takes a wide variety of formats, including the familiar .gif, .jpg, and .bmp.
- A raster image represents an image in a series of bits of information which translate into pixels on the screen. These pixels
form points of colour which create an overall finished image.
- When a raster image is created, the image on the screen is converted into pixels. Each pixel is assigned a specific value
which determines its colour. The raster image system uses the red, green, blue (RGB) colour system. An RGB value of 0,0,0
would be black, and the values go all the way through to 256 for each colour, allowing the expression of a wide range of
colour values. In photographs with subtle shading, this can be extremely valuable.
-When a raster image is viewed, the pixels usually smooth out visually for the user, who sees a photograph or drawing.
When blown up, the pixels in a raster image become apparent. While this effect is sometimes a deliberate choice on the
part of an artist, it is usually not desired.
-Depending on resolution, some raster images can be enlarged to very large sizes, while others quickly become difficult to
see. The smaller the resolution, the smaller the digital image file. For this reason, people who work with computer graphics
must find a balance between resolution and image size.
Sources;
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-vector-art.htm and http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-raster-image.htm
5. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Anti-aliasing
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Anti-aliasing is the technique of decreasing any distortion caused when making a raster image. It applies subtle
transitions in the pixels along the edges of images to minimize the jagged effect. It is used in digital photography,
computer graphics, digital audio and many other applications.
This only really comes to play when using raster images by using a higher resolution to make a smooth appearance.
Vector images always appear smooth at any size or resolution.
This is what a raster image looks like originally and without any anti-aliasing used.
This is what a raster image looks like after anti-aliasing is used.
Sources;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatial_anti-aliasing and www.sketchpad.net
6. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Resolution
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Resolution is the term used to describe the
number of dots, or pixels, used to display
an image.
Higher resolutions mean that more pixels
are used to create the image, resulting in a
crisper, cleaner image.
The display, or resolution on a monitor, is
composed of thousands of pixels or dots.
This display is indicated by a number
combination, such as 800 x 600. This
indicates that there are 800 dots
horizontally across the monitor, by 600
lines of dots vertically, equalling 480,000
dots that make up the image you see on
the screen.
Sources;
http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/r/g/resolution.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Super-resolution_example_closeup.png
7. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Aspect Ratio
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An aspect ratio is the ratio between the width and height of a film
image.
The number denoting width comes first, and the height portion of the
aspect ratio is always written as 1.
A motion picture's aspect ratio often appears on the back of the DVD
or video box. An example would be 1.85:1. This means that the size of
the original theatrical presentation of that film is 1.85 times as wide as
it is high.
Prior to the early 1950s, almost all motion pictures had the aspect
ratio 1.33:1. This ratio was recognized by the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and became known as Academy Standard. When
television standards were being developed in 1941, the National
Television Standards Committee, or NTSC, decided that 1.33.1 would
be the aspect ratio for television sets and broadcasting in the United
States. This aspect ratio is also written as 4x3 and is the aspect ratio of
all non-widescreen television sets. Technically, the Academy Standard
aspect ratio is really 1.37:1, but it is still commonly referred to as
1.33:1.
Sources;
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-aspect-ratio.htm and http://www.3dmax-tutorials.com/Aspect_Ratio__Glossary_.html
8. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – File Formats
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JPEG
JPEG, which stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, is a commonly used method of lossy compression for digital
photography (image). The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable trade off between storage size and
image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality. Source -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG
TIFF
TIFF, which stands for Tagged Image File Format, is a file format for storing images, popular among graphic artists, the
publishing industry, and both amateur and professional photographers in general. The TIFF format is widely supported by
image-manipulation applications, by publishing and page layout applications, by scanning, faxing, word processing, optical
character recognition and other applications. Adobe own the copyright for the TIFF specification. Source -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TIFF
EPS
EPS, which stands for Encapsulated PostScript, is intended to be usable as a graphics file format. It forms the basis of early
versions of the Adobe Illustrator Artwork file format. Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encapsulated_PostScript
PSD
PSD is a file extension for Adobe Photoshop. It stands for Photoshop Document. A PSD file stores an image with support for
most imaging options available in Photoshop. These include layers with masks, colour spaces, ICC profiles, CMYK Mode
(used for commercial printing), transparency, text, alpha channels and spot colours, clipping paths, and duotone settings.
This is in contrast to many other file formats (e.g. .EPS or .GIF) that restrict content to provide streamlined, predictable
functionality. A PSD file has a maximum height and width of 30,000 pixels. Source -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Photoshop#File_format
PDF
PDF, which stands for Portable Document Format, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of
application software, hardware, and operating systems. Each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of a fixed-layout
flat document, including the text, fonts, graphics, and other information needed to display it. Source -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Document_Format
9. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Colour Models
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A color model is an orderly system for creating a whole range of colors from a small set of primary colors.
There are two types of color models, those that are subtractive and those that are additive. Additive
color models use light to display color while subtractive models use printing inks. Colors perceived in
additive models are the result of transmitted light. Colors perceived in subtractive models are the result
of reflected light.
RGB Color Model CMYK Color Model
Additive color model Subtractive color model
For computer displays For printed material
Uses light to display color Uses ink to display color
Colors result from transmitted Colors result from reflected light
light Cyan+Magenta+Yellow=Black
Red+Green+Blue=White
Source - http://www.sketchpad.net/basics4.htm
10. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Adobe Photoshop
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Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems Incorporated.
There are many, many features in Photoshop but here are the main ones
CROPPING & SLICING These are used when you want to discard a certain part of an image.
DRAWING By using the pen tool, you can create precise paths that can be manipulated using anchor points. The
freeform pen tool allows the user to draw paths freehand, and with the magnetic pen tool, the drawn path attaches
closely to outlines of objects in an image, which is useful for isolating them from a background.
PAINTING A few of the painting tools in Photoshop are the brush, pencil, gradient and paint bucket tools. These can be
used to retouch images by altering and adding coloured pixels.
MEASURING & NAVIGATION The eyedropper tool selects a colour from an area of the image that is clicked, and samples
it for future use. The hand tool navigates an image by moving it in any direction, and the zoom tool enlarges the part of
an image that is clicked on, allowing for a closer view.
SELECTION The marquee tool can make selections that are single row, single column, rectangular and elliptical. Once an
area of an image is highlighted, the move tool can be used to manually relocate the selected piece to anywhere on the
canvas. The lasso tool is similar to the marquee tool, however, the user can make a custom selection by drawing it
freehand. In addition, the lasso tool can make magnetic and polygonal selections.
TYPING The type tools create an area where text can be entered, and the type mask tools create a selection area that
has the shape of text. The type tool creates vector-based text, so symbols, letters and numbers in various fonts and
colours can be re-sized while maintaining the same resolution.
RETOUCHING There are several tools that are used for retouching, manipulating and adjusting photos, such as the clone
stamp, eraser, burn, dodge, smudge and blur tools. The clone stamp samples a part of an image and duplicates it. The
eraser simply ‘rubs out’ anything you don’t want, the burn tool darkens selected areas, the dodge tool lightens selected
areas, the smudge tool stretches pixels as if they are real paint.
Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Photoshop
11. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Adobe Illustrator
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Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor developed and marketed by Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Here is a list of pretty much every feature available on Illustrator.
GRAPH CREATION LAYERS LIVE EDITING IN PREVIEW MODE SPELL CHECKER FIND/REPLACE TEXT
GRADIENTS EYE DROPPER PAINT BUCKET TABBED DOCKABLE PALETTES TRANSFORM PALETTES ALIGN PALETTE
Photoshop PIXEL FILTERS RASTERISE PUNK BLOAT FREE DISTORT LAYOUT GRID VERTICAL TEXT TOOL PENCIL TOOL
BOUNDING BOX HANDLES SMART GUIDES ACTIONS PALETTE BITMAP EYEDROPPER GRADIENT MESH LIVE BRUSHES
LINKS PALETTE FLASH & SVG OUTPUT PIXEL PREVIEW RELEASE TO LAYERS DROP SHADOWS TRANSPARENCY
FEATHERING OPACITY & LAYER MASK NATIVE PDF SUPPORT LIVE PATHFINDER SHAPES SYMBOLS SLICING
CSS LAYER SUPPORT ODBC DATA LINK VARIABLES PALETTE SAVE FOR WEB LIVE DISTORTION WARPING
ENVELOPES (WARP/MESH/TOP OBJECT) LIQUIFY TOOLS GRID/LINE/ARC/POLAR TOOLS FLARE TOOL MAGIC WAND
3D EFFECT OpenType SUPPORT CHARACTER & PARAGRAPH STYLES TEMPLATE FILE FORMAT SCRIBBLE EFFECT
COLUMNS & ROWS OPTICAL KERNING OPTICAL MARGINS EVERY-LINE COMPOSER CUSTOM TAB LEADERS
WYSIWYG FONT MENU JAPANESE TYPE SUPPORT PATH TYPE OPTION SAVE FOR MICROSOFT OFFICE LIVE TRACE
LIVE PAINT COLOURISED GRAYSCALE Photoshop LAYER SUPPORT EXPANDED STROKE OPTIONS CONTROL PALETTE
Adobe Bridge SUPPORT Wacom TABLET SUPPORT SVG-T EXPORT PDF/X EXPORT LIVE COLOUR Flash INTERGRATION
ERASER TOOL DOCUMENT PROFILES CROP AREA ISOLATION MODE MULTIPLE ARTBOARDS
TRANSPARENCY IN GRADIENTS BLOB BRUSH LIVE GRADIENT EDITING SEPARATIONS PREVIEWS
IN-PALETTE APPEARANCE EDITING PERSPECTIVE DRAWING TOOLS VARIABLE-WIDTH STROKES
CONTROL OVER OPACITY IN POINTS ON GRADIENT MESHES SHAPE BUILDER TOOL
BRISTLE BRUSH (WHICH ENABLES USERS TO IMITATE REAL LIFE BRUSH STROKES WHILE MAINTAINING VECTOR FORMAT)
Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Illustrator
12. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Adobe InDesign
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Adobe InDesign is a software application produced by Adobe Systems. It can be used to create works such as
posters, flyers, brochures, magazines, newspapers and books. InDesign can also publish content suitable for
tablet devices in conjunction with Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. Graphic designers and production artists are
the principal users, creating and laying out periodical publications, posters, and print media. It also supports
export to EPUB and SWF formats to create digital publications, and content suitable for consumption on tablet
computer devices. The Adobe InCopy word processor uses the same formatting engine as InDesign.
TEXT SETTINGS
InDesign Middle Eastern versions come with special settings for laying out Arabic or Hebrew text, such as:
Ability to use Arabic, Persian or Hindi digits Use kashidas for letter spacing and full justification Ligature option
Set vowels/diacritics positioning Justify text in three possible ways to get the desired results (Standard, Arabic,
Naskh) Option to "Insert Special Character": three Hebrew characters (Geresh, Gershayim, Maqaf) and an Arabic
one (Kashida) Apply standard, Arabic or Hebrew styles for page, paragraph and footnote numbering
BI-DIRECTION TEXT FLOW
In InDesign Middle Eastern versions, the notion of right-to-left behaviour applies to several objects: Story,
Paragraph, Character and Table. You can easily mix Right-to-Left and Left-to-Right Words, Paragraphs and
Stories in a document.
InDesign CS4 Middle Eastern versions allow you to change in one click the direction of neutral characters (for
ex.:,/?, etc.) according to your keyboard language.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You can create a table of contents (TOC) for any document or book in InDesign Middle Eastern versions.
InDesign Middle Eastern versions come with a set of Table of contents titles, one for each supported language.
The TOC is also sorted according to the chosen language. InDesign CS4 Middle Eastern versions allow you to
choose the language of your index title and cross-references by right clicking in the title field in the Generate
Index window.
13. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Adobe InDesign
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INDICES
InDesign allows for the creation of a simple keyword index or a somewhat more detailed index of the
information in your book using embedded indexing codes which are instantiated as an index using a command in
the Indexing palette. Unlike more sophisticated programs, InDesign is incapable of inserting character style
information as part of an index entry (e.g., when indexing book, journal or movie titles). Indices are limited to
four levels (top level and three sub-levels). InDesign Middle Eastern versions let you set various Sort Options for
your indices according to the language with which you are dealing.
There are no provisions for importing index entries as part of an XML file.
IMPORTING AND EXPORTING
InDesign Middle Eastern versions bring the capability of opening directly and converting QuarkXPress files, even
using Arabic XT, Arabic Phonyx or Hebrew XPressWay fonts, retaining the layout and content. InDesign Middle
Eastern versions come with more than 50 import/export filters enabling you to place many kinds of images and
Roman texts: Microsoft Word 97-98-2000 Import filter and Text Import filter. QuarkXPress data can be
converted to InDesign with Markzware's Q2ID. InDesign can also be used as a front end on top of database
applications, such as CCI Europe's NewsGate software.
REVERSE LAYOUT
InDesign Middle Eastern versions include a reverse layout feature to reverse the layout of a document, when
converting a Left to Right document (Roman) to a Right to Left one (Arabic or Hebrew) or vice versa. It is also
helpful when creating a multilingual document.
The Middle Eastern versions are also available for Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe In
Copy, and Adobe Dreamweaver, and also for Adobe Creative Suite (Design Standard, Design Premium, Web
Premium).
14. BTec Level 3
Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
HA1 - Technical File – Adobe InDesign
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COMPLEX SCRIPT RENDERING
InDesign supports Unicode character encoding and there is a special Middle East version supporting complex
text layout for Arabic and Hebrew types of complex script. The underlying Arabic and Hebrew support is
present in the Western-language editions of InDesign CS4 and CS5, but the user interface is not exposed, so it is
difficult to access.
There is a third party tool, IndicPlus from a custom plug-in development company named MetaDesign
Solutions, that adds capability to render Indic and other complex scripts with InDesign. This tool is available for
CS2/CS3/CS4/CS5/CS5.5 versions of InDesign, for both Windows and Macintosh platforms and adds the much
needed complex script based languages support in InDesign. It adds the ability to edit and treat text in a wide
range of languages. Some of these include Arabic, Assamese, Azeri, Bengali, Farsi, Georgian, Greek, Gujarati,
Hebrew, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Kazakh, Khmer (Cambodian), Lao, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali,
Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, amongst others. It supports all Unicode based
fonts
Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Illustrator
