Hi-DPI and bitmaps (was Re: Large progress indicators in Leopard)
Hi-DPI and bitmaps (was Re: Large progress indicators in Leopard)
- Subject: Hi-DPI and bitmaps (was Re: Large progress indicators in Leopard)
- From: Chris Hanson <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 22:30:07 -0800
On Nov 23, 2007, at 1:41 PM, Ricky Sharp wrote:
As John pointing out, the control could have been already modified
to support Hi-DPI (aka resolution independence). My guess is that
Apple is using bitmapped images and are just providing multi-res
flavors (72 dpi and 288 dpi).
But, IMO, that's bad! If I were implementing the control, I would
allow any size and would either vector-based images (e.g. PDF) or
drawing primitives for the content.
Really, whether a control supports high DPI and whether it is
implemented using vectors/primitives or using bitmaps is largely
irrelevant. A bitmap sized for 72 DPI can serve just fine for higher
resolutions, as if the *interface* is running at a higher resolution
it will still be appropriately sized.
One thing to think about is how newspapers and magazines do it. In
publishing, the "line work" plate files -- black & white text,
typically -- are typically high-resolution, 1200 to 2400 DPI depending
on the medium. The "continuous tone" plate files -- photographs,
charts, etc. -- are however typically 75 DPI to 300 DPI depending on
the medium.
This is partly because rasterizing color images in print involves
halftone patterns, and you don't need a 2400 DPI color image to
generate a 2400 DPI color halftone. (In fact, you really don't want
one.) On the other hand, you also often don't need as high a
resolution continuous-tone color image as you think you need to get
the effect you're looking for.
The reason some software doesn't look so great when run at 200%
scaling is not because it uses bitmapped art, but because it's running
at 200% scaling on a 72-110 DPI screen. If it were running at 100% on
a 144-220 DPI display, it would likely look pretty decent as the
"chunkiness" wouldn't be any more apparent than it is on current
displays.
So, don't automatically assume that using bitmaps is bad for hi-DPI
controls. It's not always great, but it's not automatically a fail.
Try printing your images at half scale on a high-resolution printer
and see how they look first...
-- Chris
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