MACROMEDIA FIREWORKS 8, Use Manual

Page: 16 / 472

16 Chapter 2: Fireworks Basics
About vector graphics
Vector graphics render images using lines and curves, called vectors, that include color and
position information. For example, the image of a leaf may be defined by a series of points
that describe the outline of the leaf. The color of the leaf is determined by the color of its
outline (the stroke) and the color of the area enclosed by the outline (the fill)
When you edit a vector graphic, you modify the properties of the lines and curves that
describe its shape. Vector graphics are resolution-independent, which means you can move,
resize, reshape, or change the color of a vector graphic, as well as display it on output devices
of varying resolutions, without changing the quality of its appearance.
About bitmap graphics
Bitmap graphics are composed of dots, called pixels, arranged in a grid. Your computer screen
is a large grid of pixels. In a bitmap version of the leaf, the image is determined by the location
and color value of each pixel in the grid. Each dot is assigned a color. When viewed at the
correct resolution, the dots fit together like tiles in a mosaic to form the image.