Graphics Packages and Features – JSS2 Computer Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

A graphics package is an application used to create and manipulate images on a computer.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define a graphics package;
2. name the two types of graphics package and give examples of each;
3. state one advantage and one disadvantage of painting packages and of drawing packages;
4. list common features of graphics packages;
5. identify the title bar, toolbar, menu bar, colour palette and printable area.

What is a graphics package?

A graphics package is an application that lets a user create, edit and print pictures on a computer.

• Create: make new pictures, logos, posters and diagrams.
• Manipulate: change an existing image, for example its colour, size or brightness.
• Print: send the finished image to a printer.

What are the types of graphics package?

There are two types of graphics package: painting packages and drawing packages.

• Painting package: produces bitmapped images by changing the colour of pixels.
• Drawing package: produces vector images built from lines and shapes.

What are pixels, bitmap graphics and vector graphics?

• Pixel: a tiny dot of colour on the screen. Many pixels together form a picture.
• Bitmap graphics: an image stored as a grid of coloured pixels.
• Vector graphics: an image stored as a list of instructions for drawing lines and shapes.

What is a painting package?

A painting package is a graphics application that creates images by changing the colour of pixels on the screen.

• Use: processing photographs by changing colours, effects and brightness.
• Output: bitmapped images.

What is the advantage of painting packages?

• Photo editing: they can be used to adjust and beautify photographs.

What are the disadvantages of painting packages?

• No part resizing: individual parts of an image cannot be resized.
• Whole picture only: only the whole picture can be made bigger or smaller.

What are examples of painting packages?

• MS Paint: simple painting program that comes with Windows.
• PC Paintbrush: an early painting package.
• Adobe Photoshop: widely used for editing photographs.
• JASC Paint Shop Pro: a painting and photo-editing package.

What is a drawing package?

A drawing package is a graphics application that builds images from coloured lines and shapes such as circles, squares and rectangles.

• Storage: a saved image is kept in a vector graphics file as a series of instructions.
• Recreation: the computer follows these instructions to redraw the image.
• Objects: each line or shape is treated as a separate object.

What are the advantages of drawing packages?

• Small files: they use less storage space than bitmap graphics.
• Easy editing: each part is a separate object, so individual parts can be modified easily.

What is the disadvantage of drawing packages?

• Less realistic: their images do not look as realistic as bitmap graphics.

What are examples of drawing packages?

• CorelDraw: used to design logos, posters and signs.
• Micrographix Designer: a drawing package.
• AutoCAD: a computer-aided design (CAD) package used for technical plans.

What is the difference between a painting package and a drawing package?

A painting package edits the pixels of a picture, while a drawing package builds a picture from separate lines and shapes.

What are the common features of graphics packages?

Common features are the tools that let a user draw, colour, move and change objects on the screen.

• Line tools: draw straight lines and freehand lines.
• Shape tools: draw ready-made shapes such as squares, rectangles and circles.
• Text: enter text and change the font style and size.
• Scaling: change the size of an object.
• Rotating: turn an object clockwise or anticlockwise by choosing the direction and angle.
• Stretching: pull an object out horizontally or vertically.
• Flipping: turn an object over horizontally or vertically.
• Paint palette: choose different colours and patterns.
• Fill option: colour in a shape or area with a colour or pattern from the palette.
• Clipart library: a built-in collection of ready-made pictures.
• Zoom (magnify): view an area close up for detailed work.
• Special brushes: use tools such as the airbrush for different paint effects.

• Where to find them: in most packages these features are chosen as icons from a toolbar or tool palette.

What are the parts of a graphics package window?

A graphics package window has five main parts: the title bar, menu bar, toolbar, colour palette and printable area.

• Title bar: the bar at the top of a window or dialog box that shows the name of the window or program in use.
• Menu bar: a thin bar of drop-down menus that holds functions such as opening files, editing and opening the help menu.
• Toolbar: a row of boxes that control functions of the software. The boxes often show pictures (icons) of the function they control.
• Colour palette: a set of colours for your drawing. A colour is chosen by clicking on it.
• Printable area: the part of the window where drawings and pictures are placed and changed for printing.

Evaluation

1. Define a graphics package.
2. Mention the two types of graphics package.
3. State one advantage and one disadvantage of drawing packages.
4. List four common features of graphics packages.
5. What is the function of the title bar?

Assignment

Explain the difference between a painting package and a drawing package. Give two examples of each.