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Which shape is easier for a computer to store?
Circle, Square, or Dodecahedron (12 sides).
I'm modeling something using Google Sketch-Up (easy to use, free, 3d modeling program) and I would like to keep figures as simple as possible to save computer memory. I have little doubt that it takes more space to store a twelve sided figure than it does for a 4 sided figure, but what I'm really curios about is a circle.
Circles theoretically have an infinite number of sides, or for practical purposes, only one side. I wonder if the computer treats a circle as a polygon with 100 sides or so (in other words not a true circle). This would make the shape very difficult to store.
So, to sum it all up, is my logic correct that a circle takes up greater memory on a computer than a square?
Pappy, it's in 3d so it's not just pixels and colors that the computer cares about
Malakai, I would actually be dealing with a cylinder, so essentially it's just a long circle, and not a sphere.
Thank you all, I've learned alot.
6 Answers
- lwcomputingLv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
There are two types of graphics - vector graphics and Raster (bitmap) graphics.
Bitmaps are images of a set size, say 100x100, and each point has a value indicating what is there. Since bitmaps work this way, you could have a picture of anything and it should take up the same space (before compression techniques are applied) as a blank picture.
If you enlarge these, they get VERY blocky.
Vector graphics are math based. A circle would simply be a an equation specifying the Radius and a starting point for the center of the circle.
Because Vector graphics are math based, they can be easily scalled up and never look blocky.
With a vector graphic, some shapes may take a little more space than another shape - but compared to a raster graphic, the image file size will be MUCH, MUCH smaller.
- anonymousLv 71 decade ago
It really depends on the file format. Regular polygons (like squares and triangles, and regular n-gons) and circles theoretically take the least amount of information to represent. That is, the program (which has additional information stored within itself) would only need a side length or radius to be able to generate the figure.
I never used the program you speak of, but I really doubt it makes a significant difference what your diagrams look like or what they have in them. You would be better off compressing the files than fighting with the actual layout of your files. Try WinZip or something like it to compress the files. Some files are already compressed and will not get any smaller from additional compression, but I think it's worth a try.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Theoretically yes. The image, if based on polygons, will be larger if it is a circle compared to a square..
BTW you mean sphere don't you (being 3d and all)..
- pappyLv 61 decade ago
I can't see how the computer know what shape your figure is. The computer only cares about colors and pixels.
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- ?Lv 45 years ago
yeah, except you have a frined who can do it you need to build it your self. you will get robbed nonetheless in case you need to pay somebody too lots to do an worry-free interest, attempt any of those places:
