Representing Images | Computer for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Representing Images

• Understanding Bitmap Images: A bitmap image consists of pixels, tiny colored dots organized in a grid formation. Each pixel is represented by a binary code, which computers process for rendering the image.
• Resolution of an Image: The resolution of an image signifies the quantity of pixels it contains. A higher resolution image boasts more pixels, enhancing its sharpness and detail. Nevertheless, this also necessitates additional storage space.
• Color Depth of an Image: The color depth of an image denotes the number of bits allocated to represent each color. A greater color depth enables representation of more colors, yielding a more lifelike image. However, this also entails increased storage space requirements.
• Effect of Color Depth on Image Quality: For instance, with an 8-bit color depth, 256 distinct colors can be represented (28 = 256), whereas a 24-bit color depth permits over 16 million unique colors to be represented (224 = 16,777,216). 
• File Size Impact: As resolution and color depth grow, so does the file size of an image. This is due to the increased number of pixels and colors, which demand more binary data for representation.
• Balancing Quality and Storage: As resolution and color depth rise, image quality improves. Yet, it's crucial to find a balance between desired quality and storage constraints.