VECTOR-RASTERIZATION

Vector-Rasterization for XXL-Format-Printing

"Eve of Lucas Cranach" Glasmuseum Wertheim, Germany. A CDP on a door with white translucent interlayer. Thumbnail-bitmap of 60x120 pixels modulating a vector-raster using the letter "D". Object sequencing controlled by luminosity. The letter-orientation has been modified by a sample&hold-generator.

There are 2 basic systems for working with graphical data:   Bitmaps & Vectors.

Bitmaps are an arrayed compilation of single points, a matrix, that will look like a checker board if it will be scaled up intensely.

Vectors are defining graphical elements by their shapes. Therefore a clean vector-image can be scaled to a gigantic size without loosing.

For small and large photorealistic printings with a MVD of less than 10 m bitmaps are most suitable. For larger formats, the file-sizes will easily extend usual handling capacities. That means that average bitmaps will appear strongly pixelated at close distance but nobody wants to see a façade just from afar.

For extra-large-format printing (XXL, A> 100m2) vector-graphics are perfect, because they show a stainless performance from every distance.

The conversion of Bitmaps into Vectors is a science on its own. Bitmap-images can be vectorised by vectorization programs but the results are mostly poor and often deserve an intensive redrawing.

Adam , CDP using the letter "H", closeup

Graphic-Programming

Bitmaps can offer a pool of information that can generate synthesised vector-objects which will compose new images consisting of sharp elements. The colour, size, shape, orientation, positioning and outline of these elements can be arithmetically controlled by the pixels of bitmaps or by algorithms.

This Vector-Rasterzation-Process is kind of a hybridization of bitmaps and vectors, opening the gate for a more sophisticated use of graphal elements composing extra large format images.

ColorOcean , CDP , Surface Design Show ´08 , London

ColorOcean , 8 x 2,5 m , vector-synthesis by GTD