Bitmap images have been around since the early days of computers, but they’ve seen a resurgence in recent years. It’s no wonder why: this type of image is versatile and can be used to produce animations or create graphic designs for logos and other things like that. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of bitmap images? Let’s take a look at both sides so you can decide which one works best for your project.
Table of Contents
Advantages of Bitmap Images
Simple to edit
Bitmap images are composed of blocks of pixels, which means they’re easy to edit and maintain. They can be converted into vector graphics with a little bit of work, and they’re also easy to compress into smaller file sizes.
However, some types of images are too complex for the latter; in that case, you’ll need to use a dedicated program like Adobe Fireworks or Microsoft Paint.
Animation created from them run well on older devices
Bitmap images are great for creating animations that run on older devices because fewer colors means less processing power is needed. This makes for a faster load time and smoother running graphics which will allow your video to be viewed without any lag or stuttering.
Can be compressed into really small files
You can scale down bitmaps as much as you want without losing quality since the blocks only determine the size of the image – not its shape or overall appearance. In addition to this, you can save significant amounts of memory when using it.
Disadvantages of Bitmap Images
Lack of quality due to low color depth
Bitmaps lack in quality because they’re limited to a maximum of 256 colors per image. Because of this, the color depth is usually less than 24-bits which means there’s no room for smooth gradients or other effects you can easily add with vector graphics.
In order to make up for the lack of color depth, you’ll need to create an enormous number of images and store them on your computer or online storage system. The more pictures you use, the higher quality you can produce.
Harder to scale up than vector graphics
If your project requires scaling your bitmap image, then be prepared for a loss in quality since scaling will break down the block-based structure and affect each individual pixel.
Even if you have a high-res image, you’ll need to scale it down in order to fit onto a smaller screen or be compatible with older systems.
Not good for text-based images
Finally, bitmap images are not good for text because of their limited number of colors and lack of scalability. This means if you want a logo that includes letters or numbers then vector graphics would be the better choice.
Conclusion
There are many advantages and disadvantages of using bitmap images, but it really comes down to what your project requires from them. In some cases, they’re the only way to go while others require something more modern like vector graphics. If simple is all you need then you won’t have any problems with this type of design!
