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A raster graphic is an image made up of a grid of tiny colored squares called pixels. Each pixel has a specific color value, and together, they form a complete picture, like a digital photograph or a computer monitor display. This method is resolution-dependent, meaning the quality can degrade and become pixelated if scaled up, and common file types include JPEG, PNG, and GIF.

Key characteristics of raster graphics

Pixel-based: The image is composed of a fixed number of pixels arranged in a grid.

Resolution-dependent: Scaling the image larger requires the computer to "guess" colors for new pixels, leading to quality loss and a pixelated appearance.

Realism: Excellent for depicting intricate details and complex colors, making them ideal for photorealistic images.

File size: File size is directly proportional to the number of pixels (resolution); higher resolution images have larger file sizes.

Common file types: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and TIFF are all raster formats.

Industry use: Commonly used for web graphics and photographs, and programs like Adobe Photoshop are raster-based.