Everything you need to know about saving, creating, scanning, or sharing image files.
- What is the difference between bitmap and vector images?
- Bitmap (or raster) images are stored as a series of tiny dots called pixels. Each pixel is actually a very small square that is assigned a color, and then arranged in a pattern to form the image. When you zoom in on a bitmap image you can see the individual pixels that make...
- What is resolution?
- Resolution refers to the number of pixels or individual color dots in an image. A high resolution image has more dots, which allows it to display more detail. Your display has a resolution, which is usually described as the number of columns (width) by the number of rows (height). Most displays sold...
- What is bit depth?
- Bit depth refers to the color information stored in an image. The higher the bit depth of an image, the more colors it can store. The simplest image, a 1 bit image, can only show two colors, black and white. That is because the 1 bit can only store one of two values, 0 (white)...
- How do I get images on my computer?
- There are many different ways to obtain images you can use in your projects. Digital camera: one of the easiest ways to get pictures of your students is to take snapshots using a digital camera. You can then connect the camera directly to your computer using a USB cable, or you can...
- What resolution should I use when I scan my images?
- The resolution you should use depends on how you plan to use the images you are scanning. If you plan to post your images on the web a resolution of 72 dpi should suffice because this is the common resolution for monitors. If you plan to use your image in a print document...
- How many megapixels do I need my camera to have?
- Most digital cameras sold today support a resolution of 5 megapixels (million pixels) or higher. A 5 megapixel camera will allow you to print a 5 X 7 or 8 X 10 image of good quality. If you want to print larger photos, you will need a camera with 6 megapixels or higher....
- What is the difference between optical and digital zoom?
- Most digital camera vendors advertise the combined (digital and optical) zoom of a particular model, often touting a maximum zoom of 10-12 X. This is a marketing gimmick that is used to make their models sound more impressive. In reality, you should really worry about the optical zoom capabilities of your camera, which...
- What are some tips for taking better pictures?
- Below are some easy to apply tips for improving the quality of your pictures: Fill the frame: Zoom in or move in close so that your subject fills most of the frame in your viewfinder. This will result in an image that not only feels more intimate but also has fewer distractions...
- What are the differences between the file formats used to save images?
- Most image formats use some type of compression to make the files smaller in size. Many scanners are set to save the scanned images using the TIFF format by default. Even though the TIFF format supports compression, TIFF files still tend to be quite large. However, most image editing programs will let you...
- How do I reduce the file size of an image?
- The primary way to reduce the file size of an image is by increasing the amount of compression. In most image editing applications this is done by the selections you make in the “Save As” or “Export As” dialog box when saving a PNG, JPG, or GIF. The more compression, the smaller the file will...
- What is Flickr?
- Flickr is a website that allows you store, sort, search, and share your photos online. The free version of Flickr allows you to upload up to 20MB of photos each month (a paid version with a 2GB limit is available for $24.95/year). In addition to being a place to host your images,...
- How do I use Flickr to create online presentations?
- Flickr is an online photo hosting program that can also be used to host presentations online if you export your Powerpoint or Keynote slides as images. To save your slides as images in Powerpoint: Select File > Save As....
