RasterSysteme

Rastersysteme, often translated as raster systems or grid systems, are fundamental concepts in various fields, primarily in computer graphics, printing, and digital imaging. They involve the representation of an image or a space as a collection of discrete, uniform cells, typically squares or pixels. Each cell in a raster system holds a specific value that contributes to the overall depiction of the image or the distribution of data.

In digital imaging, this translates to pixels. An image is broken down into a grid of tiny squares, where each pixel is assigned a color or intensity value. The resolution of an image is determined by the density of these pixels, meaning more pixels per unit area result in a sharper and more detailed image. Common raster image file formats include JPEG, PNG, and GIF. The quality of a raster image can degrade when it is scaled up, as the pixels become larger and more noticeable, leading to a blocky appearance.

In printing and publishing, rasterization is the process of converting vector graphics or text into a raster image. This is necessary because most printing devices, like inkjet or laser printers, operate on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Similarly, in computer-aided design (CAD) and geographic information systems (GIS), raster data models represent spatial information using a grid. Elevation maps, satellite imagery, and land cover data are frequently stored and analyzed in raster formats. The underlying principle remains the same: dividing a continuous space into discrete, manageable units.