About vector and bitmap graphics
Computers display graphics in either vector or bitmap format.
Understanding the difference between the two formats can help you
work more efficiently with them. Flash lets you create and animate
compact vector graphics. It also lets you import and manipulate
bitmap graphics that have been created in other applications.
Vector graphics
Vector graphics describe images using lines and curves, called vectors,
that also include color and position properties. For example, the
image of a leaf is described by points through which lines pass,
creating the shape of the leaf's outline. The color of the leaf is
determined by the color of the outline and the area enclosed by
the outline.
When you edit a vector graphic, you modify the properties of
the lines and curves that describe its shape. You can move,
resize, reshape, and change the color of a vector graphic without
changing the quality of its appearance. Vector graphics are
resolution-independent, meaning they can be displayed on output
devices of varying resolutions without losing any quality.
Bitmap graphics
Bitmap graphics describe images using colored dots, called pixels,
arranged within a grid. For example, the image of a leaf is
described by the specific location and color value of each pixel
in the grid, creating an image much in the same manner as a
mosaic.
When you edit a bitmap graphic, you modify pixels, rather than
lines and curves. Bitmap graphics are resolution-dependent because
the data describing the image is fixed to a grid of a particular
size. Editing a bitmap graphic can change the quality of its
appearance. In particular, resizing a bitmap graphic can make the
edges of the image ragged as pixels are redistributed within the
grid. Displaying a bitmap graphic on an output device that has a
lower-resolution than the image itself also degrades the quality
of its appearance.
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