Raster graphics

In <a href="/facts/Computer_graphics/lapBE8wv">computer graphics</a> and <a href="/facts/Digital_photography/a2UfweJh">digital photography</a>, a raster graphic represents a two-dimensional picture as a rectangular matrix or grid of <a href="/facts/Pixel/UzwBvXBV">pixels</a>, viewable via a <a href="/facts/Computer_display/NRaTDFHc">computer display</a>, <a href="/facts/Paper/FUETwwKV">paper</a>, or other display medium. A raster image is technically characterized by the width and height of the image in pixels and by the number of <a href="/facts/Bits_per_pixel/0X7zI9BP">bits per pixel</a>. Raster images are stored in <a href="/facts/Image_file/tLGQogv3">image files</a> with varying <a href="/facts/Electronic_publishing/1HuzvI5t">dissemination</a>, <a href="/facts/Raster_graphics_editor/rP4c280y">production</a>, <a href="/facts/3D_rendering/6SqukntK">generation</a>, and <a href="/facts/Raw_image_format/1T6qygdz">acquisition formats</a>.
The <a href="/facts/Printing/ta4QpeDE">printing</a> and <a href="/facts/Prepress/y1vCfosu">prepress</a> industries know raster graphics as contones (from continuous <a href="/facts/Tints_and_shades/CTH7hXvQ">tones</a>). In contrast, <a href="/facts/Line_art/eEf9bAuA">line art</a> is usually implemented as <a href="/facts/Vector_graphics/y8ok7M2P">vector graphics</a> in digital systems.

Many raster manipulations map directly onto the mathematical formalisms of <a href="/facts/Linear_algebra/8VaB4VWk">linear algebra</a>, where mathematical objects of <a href="/facts/Matrix_(mathematics)/qa8FI4ko">matrix</a> structure are of central concern.

Raster graphics open-in-new

Raster graphics