9618 · 1.2.1
Multimedia - Graphics — FAQ
Frequently asked questions for 9618 Multimedia - Graphics. Direct answers first, then deeper explanation — then practise with marking.
Is screen resolution the same as image resolution?
Not necessarily. Image resolution is the number of pixels in the image file itself (e.g., 4000x3000). Screen resolution is the number of pixels your monitor can display (e.g., 1920x1080). If you view a high-resolution image on a low-resolution screen, the computer must scale it down to fit.
Why do my calculations sometimes give a slightly different file size than the actual file on my computer?
The formula calculates the size of the raw, uncompressed pixel data. Most image file formats (like JPEG, PNG, GIF) use compression algorithms to reduce the file size. They also contain metadata (data about the image), which adds a small amount to the total size.
What's the difference between KB and KiB?
Technically, a kilobyte (KB) is 1000 bytes, and a kibibyte (KiB) is 1024 bytes. Historically, 'KB' was used for 1024 bytes in computing. For the 9618 syllabus, using the 1024 convention for KB, MB, GB is standard practice and generally accepted unless the question specifies using powers of 10.
Can you convert a bitmap to a vector?
Yes, through a process called 'tracing' or 'vectorisation'. Software attempts to identify edges and shapes in the bitmap and convert them into mathematical paths. The success of this process varies greatly depending on the complexity of the original image. Converting a vector to a bitmap (rasterisation) is much simpler.