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What Makes A Graphics Computer?

In this document I am going to talk about what makes a graphics computer including Hardware, Software, Input and Output Mediums required to make a graphics computer.  

Internal Memory:

In this section I am going to talk about the internal memory within the system that is required for a graphics computer. I am going to talk about the following things within internal memory:

1.      Cache

2.      Random Access Memory (RAM)

Cache:

Cache is the fast memory that is used between the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Random Access Memory (RAM). Processor cache memory is a type of extremely fast RAM which keeps the processor from slowing down. 

Cache memory is needed because it’s central to the communication of the computer between the CPU and RAM. These two components work together at different speeds.

Cache is needed because graphic files are normally quite huge in size, so cache memory will help the system run more efficient. The more the cache within the system the better the system would be.

There are normally two types of cache memory:

1.      One attached to the hard drive

2.      One attached to the memory (RAM)

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Random access memory is a type of memory within the computer system. Internal memory is basically a piece of hardware that makes the computer run. RAM makes a consistent flow of data between the hard drive and the processor.

An example of this is when you run a software program such as Microsoft Word it is copied from the hard drive to the RAM. Once the program is been copied to the RAM the program can travel at very high speeds to the processor were the program can then be run.

Graphics card

Graphics card is basically a card that allows your computer to run graphics. It takes digital information from the operating system and then it specifies what is to be shown on the screen and makes this into a signal so that the output requirement can recognize the signal. Graphic card designers tend to go for a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) connection between the graphics card and monitor rather than a VGA (Visual Graphics Array) connector because DVI provides a better overall picture.  An example of a graphics card is KFA2 NVIDIA Geforce 9500GT PCI-E Graphics Card.

Central Processing Unit:

The processor is basically a chip that is an essential piece of hardware to run the computer system without it, it wouldn’t run at all. The processor (CPU) allows the operating systems and other programs run. Every program consists of a set of instructions that needs to be followed by the CPU. The processor decodes the instructions inside to allow the processor to follow these instructions for the program to run.

More modern day processors can run instructions side by side rather than one at a time. Most graphic designers go for the highest possible CPU as graphics tend to consist of a lot of instructions and the more instructions the processor can deal with the faster the graphic program will run as most graphics program such as Adobe Photoshop operations take a lot of processor speed. 

Other Hardware required Such As Digital Camera           

                   

Digital cameras are cameras that allow you to take still images of anything you like. Graphic designers tend to use digital cameras because they are easily portable and high in memory.

As most graphic designers will want to take the pictures from the camera onto the computer system to add effects to the images. There are four main ways you can do this is cable, card, wireless or cradle.  

                                      File storage:

As graphic files are quite big in size some people may require external file storage which allows them to keep the files so they can be used again. It can also be used as a backup of all your graphic files just in case you delete some or if you want to send some files to a client using emails.

There are many different type of file storage including the two I am going to talk about:

ü  Hard drive

ü  Flash cards

Hard Drives

Hard drives are a good way of file storage as they are portable and high in memory.  The hard drive is a quick place for you to save all your graphics files because the graphics program will look in there first to open or save work because of the computers default settings.

These can be used once you have taken the photos from your digital camera and copy it over to your computer system within the hard drive. This means that you can delete the photo(s) from your camera once you have saved it within your hard drive to free up space within your cameras memory to allow you to take some more pictures.  You can get a hard drive from anywhere between £50 and £100 depending on size you are wanting.

Flash Cards

Flash cards are a good way of storage within your computerised devices such as Digital Camera and Mobile Phones as they are portable and have a number of different sizes. These can be used to save all your photos onto so that you don’t need to rely on your cameras memory to hold all your photos as it’s normally small in size. Having this file storage will allow you to take loads of photos without having the problem of deleting unwanted photos.  You can get a flash card from anywhere between £10 and £50 depending on size you are wanting.

                                          Input Devices:

 

There are many input devices that you can use to help produce your images a lot easier. I am going to talk about the following two:

ü  Graphics Tablet

ü  Digital Camera

Graphics Tablet

Graphics tablet is a good way to produce your images easier as you will not need to use a mouse to add effects you can control all your mouse movements just using a special pen.  Graphics tablets also allow you to produce a lot more accurate images than using a mouse as it allows you to add in more detail compared to a mouse.  The pen on the graphics tablets usually has a pressure sensitive tip so the user presses harder for a thicker line.  Modern tablets have included a LCD screen that allows you to draw straight onto an image. You can get graphics tablets for around £20 to £30.

Digital Camera

Digital Cameras is an excellent way of producing images so that you can edit them within a photo editing software package such as Adobe Photoshop. Digital camera are a good way of taking photos because as they have a mixed range of pixels and lens depending on how much you want to pay. For photo editing I would recommend that you use a high pixel camera as it will produce clearer images. You can get digital cameras for around £50 to £500.

                                     

                                             Output Mediums:

Output mediums allow you to output the images to a number of devices.  I am going to talk about the following things:

ü  Printer

ü  Computer Monitor

ü  Mobile Phone

ü  PDA

Printer

Printer is a good way to allow pictures to be printed out to show employees or to show to clients for example. Printers basically print out a hard copy of the image you create on screen by printing it to paper of even onto a T-shirt. Printers produce high colour images that you can print out in different sizes and formats.  You will need the device because you won’t always want to keep your images within your computer, you can print them out and show off all your photos.

Computer Monitor

A computer system needs a monitor attached to the computer so the users can see what’s happening. In the last 10 years computer monitors drastically changed from having large CRT monitors to having small flat screen monitors. Flat screens have become much larger and cheaper for the users to purchase and are now the choice of any new computer system. You can also have images within your laptop and plug it into a larger monitor so you can see the images a lot more clearly. You can get flat screen monitors for around £20 to £50.

Mobile Phone

Mobile Phone is a good way of showing your final product as you can copy the photos onto an SD card that will allow you to add the images to your mobile phone screen for example. Mobile phones can also use images that you have captured within that device.  Mobile phones range from memory and features deepening on how much you want to pay.  

PDA

PDA is a good way of updating your photos on the go as PDA’s has a larger screen compared to mobile phones that you can use to edit your photos on the go. Many PDA;s have a camera attached to the system so you could take photos from that device but they won’t be as good as taking photos from a digital camera. PDA’s will allow you to download apps to your phone for example Photoshop Express were you can edit your photos on the go without having to carry around your laptop/netbook. You can get these from around £200 – £600.

Software

Software is a crucial part of the design stage because it allows you to edit your photos adding different effects to your image/collage. Without having the software to edit your photos you would be able to become a graphics designer for example. I am going to talk about the following things:

1.      Vector Based

2.      Bitmap

3.      Photo Manipulation - Photoshop

4.      Photo Galleries

5.      File Conversion Programs

Vector Based

Vector Based software example is Corel Draw this allows you create images and edit photos within the program. Vector based programs is very good at creating things such as diagrams. Vector graphics are a lot different to bitmap graphics. The main features of using vector graphics are:

·  Small in size so will reduce the amount of memory needed within the system

·  No loss of print quality when enlarged or reduced in size

·  Vector images is normally made from objects such as Squares and Circles

·  Each object can be grouped together if needed

Bitmap

Bitmap is a piece of software for example Paint. Paint is a very basic program but can produce some good images if you know how to use it. Bitmap graphics is a lot different from using vector graphics. Bitmap graphics are good for creating screenshots and web page illustrations. The main features of using a bitmap graphics are:

·  Large file sized so will require loads of memory within the system

·  Print quality can become blocky when enlarged or reduced in size

·  Bitmap graphics can be created when an image is scanned into the computer system using a scanner or from a digital camera.  

Photo Manipulation

Photo manipulation is a piece of software for example Photoshop. Photoshop is a piece of software with loads of features that you can use within your image. Photoshop can either be in full colour, greyscale or black and white.  Photo manipulation is a bitmap program with tools that are specialized for manipulation photographs.

 Photo Galleries

A photo gallery is a program that displays a collection of images for people to look at using a slide show. A photo gallery is normally a collection of web pages showing photos that people post up within that collection of webpages.

File Conversion Programs

File conversion programs are programs that convert file formats. This can often be done by using the file save as menu within the graphics application then choosing the file format you want to save in. For example within Microsoft Paint you can save images as BMP, JPG, GIF, TIF and PNG files. Other applications may more of a wider range of file formats that you can use so that you can convert the image so you can open it within a different application.