Questions about 2D computer graphics
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is 2D computer graphics and how does it work?
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images from two-dimensional models such as geometric shapes, text, and digital images. Images are produced by combining vector graphics, raster bitmaps, and layered models, then manipulating them through geometric transformations including translation, rotation, and scaling. The field covers both the branch of computer science that defines these techniques and the models themselves.
When did 2D computer graphics start?
2D computer graphics started in the 1950s, based on vector graphics devices. Raster-based devices largely supplanted vector hardware in the following decades. The PostScript language and the X Window System protocol were landmark developments in the field.
What is the difference between vector graphics and raster graphics in 2D computer graphics?
Vector graphics store images as mathematical descriptions of shapes, making them resolution-independent and often a factor of 1,000 or more smaller than equivalent digital images. Raster graphics divide the screen into a rectangular grid of pixels stored as a bitmap. Modern graphics card displays almost overwhelmingly use raster techniques because raster-based video hardware costs relatively less than vector graphic hardware.
What were the classic 2D graphics chips used in early arcade games and consoles?
Classic 2D graphics chips from the late 1970s to the 1980s include Atari's TIA, ANTIC, CTIA, and GTIA; Commodore's OCS; MOS Technology's VIC and VIC-II; Sega's VDP and Super Scaler chips; Texas Instruments' TMS9918; and Yamaha's V9938, V9958, and YM7101 VDP. These chips powered 8-bit to early 16-bit arcade games, video game consoles, and home computers. A co-processor dedicated to blitting operations is called a Blitter chip.
What was the first popular 2D graphics editor?
MacDraw, introduced in 1984 with the Macintosh line of computers, was an early example of the 2D graphics editor category. Apple's MacPaint, released as a companion to MacDraw, was one of the first popular image editors. Modern successors include Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, GIMP, and Inkscape.
How do layers work in 2D computer graphics software?
In a layered model, each layer is conceptually a sheet of ink, paper, or film that is opaque, translucent, or transparent, stacked in an order defined by a single depth number. The target image is produced by painting each layer in order of decreasing depth onto a virtual canvas. Layers allow users to edit one layer without affecting others and to suppress information such as roads from a map or annotations from a document.