Monday, November 22, 2010

Storage of Image Assets

The place where you are storing files is important if you have many differant files in differant file formats. Messiness can lead to disorganisation.

To make it simpler, formal and more organised there should be a folder for the main image that you are creating. Within that folder, should be two differant sections; Drafts and Final. The files in the folders should be clearly named i.e. image_ORIGINAL_450.psd. "ORIGINAL" means that you shouldn't edit the original and should make the copy to lessen the risk of losing your work. "450" stands for the dpi (Dots per Inch) in the image. "Psd" stands for the type of the file format.


Optimization

Optimisation is used to get the best quality out of your image for the purpose it is needed e.g. using an image file thats 1GB for a large A2 poster, then reducing the size of the file for different purposes. Images on the web would have to be saved in a lossless file format like a PNG file. The resolution would also have to change to about 72 dpi.

Depending on the purpose needed of the image, you could change:
The size of the image
Quality of the image
Dpi of the image
File type of the image
Number of colours in the image

Textures

Textures are 2D images that are wrapped around an 3D object. This can be used for: buildings, characters, objects and landscapes. Tetures can be easily used from the internet but big companies games developers like Nintendo or Sony create their own by taking photographs or by using imaging software i.e. Adobe.

An example of some landscapes:


















Images taken from CG Textures.com

File Types

A Jpeg file is a Raster/Bitmap file format and is best not to be used, as after saving the image, it can not be edited at all.

Advantages:
Has a variety of compressionable sizes
Good for small filed photos/images
Dis-advantages:
Lossless compression
Loss of quality when using the zoom in feature
Doesn't support layers

A Gif file is a Raster/Bitmap file format that is mostly used for online images as not alot of memory is required. It is also used for animated images aswell.

Advantages:
Good for small filed photos/images
Transparency can be used
Dis-advantages:
Lossless compression
Not good detail for photos/images

A Psd file is a Raster/Bitmap file format that is great for editing photos or for creative graphical work. It is commonly used on Adobe Photoshop.

Advantages:
Good quality images
Large amount of colours can be used
Layers is supported
Dis-advantages:
Very large file sizes
Lossless compression

A Tif file is a Raster/Bitmap file format and is regullarly used, besides Psd's, for large and colourful images.

Advantages:
Great for image editing
Large amount of colours can be used
Dis-advantages:
Loss of quality when using the zoom in feature
Very large file sizes

A Bmp file is a Raster/Bitmap file format and is used mostly on the programme, Microsoft Paint.

Advantages:
Good quality images
Lossless compression
Dis-advantages:
Very large file sizes

A Ai file is a Vector file format which is good for offices and businesses as they're logo could be blown up to billboard size and yet still be used as a small logo on a card or letter.

Advantages:
Image can be used for multiple advertising purposes
Good quality images
Dis-advantages:
Only basic colour information