Raster graphics: pixel-by-pixel storage instead of mathematical vectors — JPG, PNG, TIFF. Scaling degrades sharpness; quality loss when enlarging.
You work with pixel graphics — each image is a raster of individual colored dots arranged in a matrix. Unlike vector graphics, which are based on mathematical formulas, the system here stores each pixel individually with its RGB or CMYK values. This is the core: Bitmapped Images are position-dependent, not scalable without loss of quality. JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP — all work on this principle.
On set or in compositing, you notice this immediately: You have an HD recording (1920×1080) and try to enlarge it to 4K. The engine fills in the missing pixels through interpolation — the result becomes muddy, edges lose sharpness. Conversely, downsampling works relatively cleanly because pixels can be omitted. This is the central limitation. Therefore, in visual effects, grading, or compositing, you work strategically: you capture assets in a higher resolution than necessary to have room for scaling down later. A 6K DPX scan of a matte painting can then be cropped to different formats — that works. The reverse does not.
Compared to vector graphics (see: Vector Graphics in the lexicon) or procedural textures, the advantage lies in photorealism and detail. A photographic recording is always a Bitmapped Image — it is acquired as individual pixels. This makes it indispensable for films, as long as they are in the correct resolution. It becomes problematic in post-production: if you scale, rotate, or deform a Bitmapped Image multiple times (see: Digital Intermediate), interpolation errors accumulate. This is why you work with Bit Depth (8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit floating point) — higher bit depth gives you more room for color corrections without banding occurring.
Practical tip: Save your finals and interim assets in compressed or lossless formats, depending on your workflow. PNG is lossless and uncompressed, JPG saves storage but with loss of quality — unsuitable for VFX work. TIFF is your standard for archival and professional workflows. The pixel-bound nature of Bitmapped Images is not a bug, it's a reality of digital image capture — you have to account for it, not fight against it.