AP Computer Science Principles

Lesson 4: Text, Sound, & Images

as Digital Information
Today’s Objectives:
• Students will be able
to understand how
digital data represents
text, sound, and
images.
Text as Digital Data
Text as Digital Data
 Text is represented as digital data through a process called character encoding
Text as Digital Data
 Text is represented as digital data through a process called character encoding
 Character encoding assigns a unique numerical value (code point) to each character in a
character set, allowing computers to store and manipulate text in a digital format.
Text as Digital Data
 Text is represented as digital data through a process called character encoding
 Character encoding assigns a unique numerical value (code point) to each character in a
character set, allowing computers to store and manipulate text in a digital format.
 A character set is a collection of characters, symbols, and glyphs that can be used to
represent written language. Common character sets include ASCII (American Standard
Code for Information Interchange) and Unicode.
Text as Digital Data
 Text is represented as digital data through a process called character encoding
 Character encoding assigns a unique numerical value (code point) to each character in a
character set, allowing computers to store and manipulate text in a digital format.
 A character set is a collection of characters, symbols, and glyphs that can be used to
represent written language. Common character sets include ASCII (American Standard
Code for Information Interchange) and Unicode.
 A code point is a numerical value assigned to a specific character in a character set. For
example, the code point for the letter "A" is 65 in ASCII and Unicode.
Text as Digital Data
 Text is represented as digital data through a process called character encoding
 Character encoding assigns a unique numerical value (code point) to each character in a
character set, allowing computers to store and manipulate text in a digital format.
 A character set is a collection of characters, symbols, and glyphs that can be used to
represent written language. Common character sets include ASCII (American Standard
Code for Information Interchange) and Unicode.
 A code point is a numerical value assigned to a specific character in a character set. For
example, the code point for the letter "A" is 65 in ASCII and Unicode.
 Computers use binary digits to store and process data, so to represent text in digital form,
each character's code point is translated into binary.
Text as Digital Data
 Text is represented as digital data through a process called character encoding
 Character encoding assigns a unique numerical value (code point) to each character in a
character set, allowing computers to store and manipulate text in a digital format.
 A character set is a collection of characters, symbols, and glyphs that can be used to
represent written language. Common character sets include ASCII (American Standard
Code for Information Interchange) and Unicode.
 A code point is a numerical value assigned to a specific character in a character set. For
example, the code point for the letter "A" is 65 in ASCII and Unicode.
 Computers use binary digits to store and process data, so to represent text in digital form,
each character's code point is translated into binary.
 Text files are stored in computers as sequences of binary data and the encoding scheme
used determines how the binary data corresponds to characters.
The partial ASCII table below outlines a few common symbols and their decimal, hexadecimal, and binary representation.
 To store the four-character string "FUN!" in memory, the computer
would store the binary representation of each individual character:

Character F U N !

Binary
Representation
 To store the four-character string "FUN!" in memory, the computer
would store the binary representation of each individual character:

Character F U N !

Binary
0100 0110
Representation
 To store the four-character string "FUN!" in memory, the computer
would store the binary representation of each individual character:

Character F U N !

Binary
0100 0110 0101 0101
Representation
 To store the four-character string "FUN!" in memory, the computer
would store the binary representation of each individual character:

Character F U N !

Binary
0100 0110 0101 0101 0100 1110
Representation
 To store the four-character string "FUN!" in memory, the computer
would store the binary representation of each individual character:

Character F U N !

Binary
0100 0110 0101 0101 0100 1110 0010 0001
Representation
 How does the computer know that 0010 0001
represents a ! and not the integer value 33?
 How does the computer know that 0010 0001
represents a ! and not the integer value 33?
CONTEXT!
 How does the computer know that 0010 0001
represents a ! and not the integer value 33?
CONTEXT!
 Computers rely on context to determine how binary
data should be interpreted.
 How does the computer know that 0010 0001
represents a ! and not the integer value 33?
CONTEXT!
 Computers rely on context to determine how binary
data should be interpreted.
 If you are working with a text document, a word
processing software, or any application that deals with
textual data, the computer will use the appropriate
character encoding (such as ASCII, Unicode, etc.) to
interpret the binary data as characters.
 How does the computer know that 0010 0001
represents a ! and not the integer value 33?
CONTEXT!
 Computers rely on context to determine how binary
data should be interpreted.
 If you are working with a text document, a word
processing software, or any application that deals with
textual data, the computer will use the appropriate
character encoding (such as ASCII, Unicode, etc.) to
interpret the binary data as characters.
 In programming languages, you explicitly declare the data type when using binary
values. For example, in many programming languages, if you write char c =
0b00100001;, it indicates that you are assigning a binary value to a character
variable. The language's compiler or interpreter knows to interpret the binary value as a
character.
ASCII vs Unicode
ASCII vs Unicode
 Unicode is more commonly used now instead of ASCII because it
provides a much larger character set that can encompass characters
from multiple languages, scripts, and writing systems.
ASCII vs Unicode
 Unicode is more commonly used now instead of ASCII because it
provides a much larger character set that can encompass characters
from multiple languages, scripts, and writing systems.
 While ASCII is limited to representing characters in the English
language and a few basic symbols, Unicode includes a
comprehensive collection of characters from virtually all the
world's languages, making it more versatile and suitable for global
communication and software development
ASCII vs Unicode
 Unicode is more commonly used now instead of ASCII because it
provides a much larger character set that can encompass characters
from multiple languages, scripts, and writing systems.
 While ASCII is limited to representing characters in the English
language and a few basic symbols, Unicode includes a
comprehensive collection of characters from virtually all the
world's languages, making it more versatile and suitable for global
communication and software development
 Unicode a 16-bit representation instead of the 8-bit representation
of ASCII.
Programs and Systems that Use Unicode:
Programs and Systems that Use Unicode:
 Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge use Unicode to render
web pages in different languages.
Programs and Systems that Use Unicode:
 Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge use Unicode to render
web pages in different languages.
 Most modern operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux,
use Unicode for file names, user interface elements, and text processing.
Programs and Systems that Use Unicode:
 Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge use Unicode to render
web pages in different languages.
 Most modern operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux,
use Unicode for file names, user interface elements, and text processing.
 Software like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, and Notepad++
use Unicode to handle multilingual documents.
Programs and Systems that Use Unicode:
 Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge use Unicode to render
web pages in different languages.
 Most modern operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux,
use Unicode for file names, user interface elements, and text processing.
 Software like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, and Notepad++
use Unicode to handle multilingual documents.

In contrast, ASCII is still used in situations where only basic English

characters and symbols are needed, such as older systems, legacy software,
and certain programming tasks that don't involve internationalization.
Sound as Digital Data
Most of us have had the experience of playing MP3 sound files, upload pictures,
or streaming the latest Netflix film. How does this information get represented
on a computer, when a computer can only communicate and store data as 1s and
0s?
Sound as Digital Data
Most of us have had the experience of playing MP3 sound files, upload pictures,
or streaming the latest Netflix film. How does this information get represented
on a computer, when a computer can only communicate and store data as 1s and
0s?

 Sound is analog data; it has a continuous and natural form. How do we

represent analog data as a digital data?
Sound as Digital Data
Most of us have had the experience of playing MP3 sound files, upload pictures,
or streaming the latest Netflix film. How does this information get represented
on a computer, when a computer can only communicate and store data as 1s and
0s?

 Sound is analog data; it has a continuous and natural form. How do we

represent analog data as a digital data?
 Sound is a form of energy that travels in waves through the air (or other
materials)
Sound as Digital Data
Most of us have had the experience of playing MP3 sound files, upload pictures,
or streaming the latest Netflix film. How does this information get represented
on a computer, when a computer can only communicate and store data as 1s and
0s?

 Sound is analog data; it has a continuous and natural form. How do we

represent analog data as a digital data?
 Sound is a form of energy that travels in waves through the air (or other
materials)
 When you talk, listen to music, or any other sound, what you're actually
hearing are these waves vibrating through the air
Sound as Digital Data
Most of us have had the experience of playing MP3 sound files, upload pictures,
or streaming the latest Netflix film. How does this information get represented
on a computer, when a computer can only communicate and store data as 1s and
0s?

 Sound is analog data; it has a continuous and natural form. How do we

represent analog data as a digital data?
 Sound is a form of energy that travels in waves through the air (or other
materials)
 When you talk, listen to music, or any other sound, what you're actually
hearing are these waves vibrating through the air
 The computer needs to break down this sound into tiny pieces that it can work
with.
 It does this by taking snapshots of the sound's amplitude (how
high or low the sound is at a specific moment) at regular
intervals.
 It does this by taking snapshots of the sound's amplitude (how
high or low the sound is at a specific moment) at regular
intervals.

For each snapshot, the computer assigns a binary number based on

the amplitude. Let's say the computer uses 8 bits for each number.
Here's a simplified example:
 It does this by taking snapshots of the sound's amplitude (how
high or low the sound is at a specific moment) at regular
intervals.

For each snapshot, the computer assigns a binary number based on

the amplitude. Let's say the computer uses 8 bits for each number.
Here's a simplified example:

 If the amplitude is low, it might be represented as 00000000

 It does this by taking snapshots of the sound's amplitude (how
high or low the sound is at a specific moment) at regular
intervals.

For each snapshot, the computer assigns a binary number based on

the amplitude. Let's say the computer uses 8 bits for each number.
Here's a simplified example:

 If the amplitude is low, it might be represented as 00000000

 If the amplitude is higher, it might be represented as 01010101
 It does this by taking snapshots of the sound's amplitude (how
high or low the sound is at a specific moment) at regular
intervals.

For each snapshot, the computer assigns a binary number based on

the amplitude. Let's say the computer uses 8 bits for each number.
Here's a simplified example:

 If the amplitude is low, it might be represented as 00000000

 If the amplitude is higher, it might be represented as 01010101
 And if the amplitude is even higher, it might be represented as
11111111
 It does this by taking snapshots of the sound's amplitude (how
high or low the sound is at a specific moment) at regular
intervals.

For each snapshot, the computer assigns a binary number based on

the amplitude. Let's say the computer uses 8 bits for each number.
Here's a simplified example:

 If the amplitude is low, it might be represented as 00000000

 If the amplitude is higher, it might be represented as 01010101
 And if the amplitude is even higher, it might be represented as
11111111

These binary numbers are like a digital version of the sound wave. The computer does this
many, many times per second to capture the entire sound.
 The process of taking those snapshots is called sampling
 The process of taking those snapshots is called sampling
 The number of snapshots taken per second is called the sampling rate
 The process of taking those snapshots is called sampling
 The number of snapshots taken per second is called the sampling rate
 A higher sampling rate means the sound is captured in more detail
 The process of taking those snapshots is called sampling
 The number of snapshots taken per second is called the sampling rate
 A higher sampling rate means the sound is captured in more detail
 The number of bits used to represent each snapshot is called the bit depth
 The process of taking those snapshots is called sampling
 The number of snapshots taken per second is called the sampling rate
 A higher sampling rate means the sound is captured in more detail
 The number of bits used to represent each snapshot is called the bit depth
 The higher the bit depth, the more amplitude values per sample are captured to
recreate the original audio signal. The most common audio bit depths are 16-
bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit.
When you play the sound back, the computer reads those binary numbers,
converts them back to their original amplitudes, and plays them through
speakers or headphones. Because the computer is doing this incredibly
quickly, your ears perceive it as continuous sound.

The most widely used digital audio format is MP3, which samples sound
signals at a rate of 44,100 sample/second (44.1 kHz), using 16 bits per
sample.
Images as Digital Data
Images as Digital Data
 A digital image is made up of tiny dots called pixels (short
for "picture elements")
Images as Digital Data
 A digital image is made up of tiny dots called pixels (short
for "picture elements")
 Each pixel is a small square or dot of color that, when
combined with other pixels, form a complete image
Images as Digital Data
 A digital image is made up of tiny dots called pixels (short
for "picture elements")
 Each pixel is a small square or dot of color that, when
combined with other pixels, form a complete image
 Think of an image as a grid where each grid cell represents a
pixel
Images as Digital Data
 A digital image is made up of tiny dots called pixels (short
for "picture elements")
 Each pixel is a small square or dot of color that, when
combined with other pixels, form a complete image
 Think of an image as a grid where each grid cell represents a
pixel
 Screen resolution is the number of pixels on a device within each dimension (width ×
height) that can be displayed on the screen. For example, a device with the resolution of
“1024 × 768” has a 1024-pixel width and a 768-pixel height.
The average human eye cannot accurately discern components closer together
than about 0.05-0.1 mm, so if the pixels are dense enough, they appear to the
human eye as a continuous image. A high-quality digital camera stores about 10
– 15 million pixels per photograph. The averages out to roughly 0.02 mm
together.

So how do we encode these pixels into binary representation?

Black and White Images
 Let's look at a simple example of a black and white image.
Black and White Images
 Let's look at a simple example of a black and white image.
 White is represented by a single 1 (since that means light "on") and black is
represented as a single 0 (since that means light "off").
Black and White Images
 Let's look at a simple example of a black and white image.
 White is represented by a single 1 (since that means light "on") and black is
represented as a single 0 (since that means light "off").

Given the following binary representation, what image does this create? Draw
some ideas below.

0111010101110111010101110
Possible Drawings:

Was that easy or difficult to create? What information do you also have to know?
Possible Drawings:

Was that easy or difficult to create? What information do you also have to know?
 Difficult to follow the 0s and 1s without any breaks
 It would be nice to know the dimensions of the photo
 This is where metadata comes in.
 This is where metadata comes in.
 Metadata is data that describes other data.
 This is where metadata comes in.
 Metadata is data that describes other data.
 For example, a digital image may include metadata that describe the size of the
image, number of colors, or resolution.
 This is where metadata comes in.
 Metadata is data that describes other data.
 For example, a digital image may include metadata that describe the size of the
image, number of colors, or resolution.
 Metadata is usually included at the beginning of the coding scheme to let the
computer know how to set up the photo.
 This is where metadata comes in.
 Metadata is data that describes other data.
 For example, a digital image may include metadata that describe the size of the
image, number of colors, or resolution.
 Metadata is usually included at the beginning of the coding scheme to let the
computer know how to set up the photo.

 For example, the first two bytes of an image can be used to represent the width
and height of the it (1 byte per information).
 This is where metadata comes in.
 Metadata is data that describes other data.
 For example, a digital image may include metadata that describe the size of the
image, number of colors, or resolution.
 Metadata is usually included at the beginning of the coding scheme to let the
computer know how to set up the photo.

 For example, the first two bytes of an image can be used to represent the width
and height of the it (1 byte per information).
 The standard varies and this is where the layer of abstraction comes in - know
that the metadata is there, but you do not have to read it or know exactly what
it contains.
Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Width: 0000 0101

Height: 0000 0101
Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Width: 0000 0101 = 5

Height: 0000 0101 = 5
Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Width: 0000 0101 = 5

Height: 0000 0101 = 5

A 5x5 Photo!
Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Width: 0000 0101 = 5

Height: 0000 0101 = 5

A 5x5 Photo!
Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Width: 0000 0101 = 5

Height: 0000 0101 = 5

A 5x5 Photo!
Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Width: 0000 0101 = 5

Height: 0000 0101 = 5

A 5x5 Photo!
Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Width: 0000 0101 = 5

Height: 0000 0101 = 5

A 5x5 Photo!
Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Width: 0000 0101 = 5

Height: 0000 0101 = 5

A 5x5 Photo!
Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Width: 0000 0101 = 5

Height: 0000 0101 = 5

A 5x5 Photo!
Let's take the example we just had and include two bytes containing the
dimensions at the beginning: width x height, followed by the black and white
color scheme:

0000 0101 0000 0101 0111010101110111010101110

Width: 0000 0101 = 5

Height: 0000 0101 = 5

A 5x5 Photo!

It is much easier to code when we the know the metadata!

Color Images
 Instead of just representing a black and white image, let's kick it up a notch
and represent a grayscale image.
Color Images
 Instead of just representing a black and white image, let's kick it up a notch
and represent a grayscale image.
 Instead of using 1 bit for color, we can use 3 bits per pixel color and have 8
(23) shades of intensity.
Color Images
 Instead of just representing a black and white image, let's kick it up a notch
and represent a grayscale image.
 Instead of using 1 bit for color, we can use 3 bits per pixel color and have 8
(23) shades of intensity.
Color
Binary
000 001 010 011 100 101 110 111
Representation
Decimal
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Representation
Color Images
 Instead of just representing a black and white image, let's kick it up a notch
and represent a grayscale image.
 Instead of using 1 bit for color, we can use 3 bits per pixel color and have 8
(23) shades of intensity.
Color
Binary
000 001 010 011 100 101 110 111
Representation
Decimal
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Representation

We can see from here that if we wanted more colors, all we would have to do
it increase the number of bits in each pixel!
Here would be an example of how we can encode that metadata:

The first byte represents the width, the second byte represents the height, and
the third byte represents how many bits per pixel. The rest of the data is coding
the grayscale colors.
Here would be an example of how we can encode that metadata:

The first byte represents the width, the second byte represents the height, and
the third byte represents how many bits per pixel. The rest of the data is coding
the grayscale colors.

0000 0101 0000 0101 0000 0011

011 101 010 111 011 101 010 111 … <rest of greyscale code>
Here would be an example of how we can encode that metadata:

The first byte represents the width, the second byte represents the height, and
the third byte represents how many bits per pixel. The rest of the data is coding
the grayscale colors.

0000 0101 0000 0101 0000 0011

Width Height Bit Depth

011 101 010 111 011 101 010 111 … <rest of greyscale code>
Colors
How do we get more colors?
How do we get more colors?

Option 1
 Map the colors to a decimal representation
How do we get more colors?

Option 1
 Map the colors to a decimal representation
 This is what we did in the grayscale example and also what we do with characters in a
text (Unicode)
How do we get more colors?

Option 1
 Map the colors to a decimal representation
 This is what we did in the grayscale example and also what we do with characters in a
text (Unicode)

Problem: There are SO MANY colors on the visible spectrum; how can we possibly have a
map big enough?
How do we get more colors?

Option 1
 Map the colors to a decimal representation
 This is what we did in the grayscale example and also what we do with characters in a
text (Unicode)

Problem: There are SO MANY colors on the visible spectrum; how can we possibly have a
map big enough?

Option 2
 Mix light to create colors
How do we get more colors?

Option 1
 Map the colors to a decimal representation
 This is what we did in the grayscale example and also what we do with characters in a
text (Unicode)

Problem: There are SO MANY colors on the visible spectrum; how can we possibly have a
map big enough?

Option 2
 Mix light to create colors
 The visible spectrum is made up of different light wavelengths
How do we get more colors?

Option 1
 Map the colors to a decimal representation
 This is what we did in the grayscale example and also what we do with characters in a
text (Unicode)

Problem: There are SO MANY colors on the visible spectrum; how can we possibly have a
map big enough?

Option 2
 Mix light to create colors
 The visible spectrum is made up of different light wavelengths
 Mixing wavelengths is how we get different colors
The way color is represented in a computer is different from the ways we
represent text or numbers.
The way color is represented in a computer is different from the ways we
represent text or numbers.
 With text, we just made a list of characters and assigned a number to
each one.
The way color is represented in a computer is different from the ways we
represent text or numbers.
 With text, we just made a list of characters and assigned a number to
each one.
 With color, we actually use binary to encode how much light each color
in the RGB model should get.
The way color is represented in a computer is different from the ways we
represent text or numbers.
 With text, we just made a list of characters and assigned a number to
each one.
 With color, we actually use binary to encode how much light each color
in the RGB model should get.

The RGB (Red-Green-Blue) encoding scheme describes a specific color

by capturing the individual contribution to a pixel's color of each of the
three light colors.
Red, green and blue (RGB) are the primary
colors of light.
Red, green and blue (RGB) are the primary
colors of light.
 These are used by television and computer
screens, because such things emit light. By
combining red, green and blue light in various
proportions, you can make pretty much any
color you can think of.
Red, green and blue (RGB) are the primary
colors of light.
 These are used by television and computer
screens, because such things emit light. By
combining red, green and blue light in various
proportions, you can make pretty much any
color you can think of.
 This is based on our having three types of
cone cells in our eyes, which are sensitive to
different wavelengths of light and together
produce the sensation that we know as color.
Cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY) are the primary
colors of pigment.
Cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY) are the primary
colors of pigment.
 These are used in printing because inks and
such are essentially subtractive - they absorb
light rather than emitting it.
Cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY) are the primary
colors of pigment.
 These are used in printing because inks and
such are essentially subtractive - they absorb
light rather than emitting it.
 Cyan ink absorbs red light, magenta ink absorbs
green light, and yellow ink absorbs blue light
Red, yellow and blue (RYB) are not actually primary
colors, although they are often taught as such in
elementary school. The reason they are taught is a
combination of:
Red, yellow and blue (RYB) are not actually primary
colors, although they are often taught as such in
elementary school. The reason they are taught is a
combination of:
 it is a scheme that has been used by artists since the
late 16th or early 17th century (long before RGB or
CMY came along), as a small set of pigments from
which they can make a wide variety of other colors
rather than having to fork out for a wider range of
them, and the tradition has continued
Red, yellow and blue (RYB) are not actually primary
colors, although they are often taught as such in
elementary school. The reason they are taught is a
combination of:
 it is a scheme that has been used by artists since the
late 16th or early 17th century (long before RGB or
CMY came along), as a small set of pigments from
which they can make a wide variety of other colors
rather than having to fork out for a wider range of
them, and the tradition has continued
 it is an approximation of CMY that is easier for
children to understand
Each pixel contains three colors codes: Red, Green, and Blue
Each pixel contains three colors codes: Red, Green, and Blue
Each of the colors gets a number that describes how much each color will
contribute to the overall color pixel.
Each pixel contains three colors codes: Red, Green, and Blue
Each of the colors gets a number that describes how much each color will
contribute to the overall color pixel.
 There is one byte for each color, which will range in decimal from 0 to 255.
Each pixel contains three colors codes: Red, Green, and Blue
Each of the colors gets a number that describes how much each color will
contribute to the overall color pixel.
 There is one byte for each color, which will range in decimal from 0 to 255.
 0 means there is no contribution from this color
Each pixel contains three colors codes: Red, Green, and Blue
Each of the colors gets a number that describes how much each color will
contribute to the overall color pixel.
 There is one byte for each color, which will range in decimal from 0 to 255.
 0 means there is no contribution from this color
 255 means a full contribution of the color
Each pixel contains three colors codes: Red, Green, and Blue
Each of the colors gets a number that describes how much each color will
contribute to the overall color pixel.
 There is one byte for each color, which will range in decimal from 0 to 255.
 0 means there is no contribution from this color
 255 means a full contribution of the color
 Each pixel therefore has 3 bytes of data
Each pixel contains three colors codes: Red, Green, and Blue
Each of the colors gets a number that describes how much each color will
contribute to the overall color pixel.
 There is one byte for each color, which will range in decimal from 0 to 255.
 0 means there is no contribution from this color
 255 means a full contribution of the color
 Each pixel therefore has 3 bytes of data
 Hexadecimal is more convenient to represent colors, so you will often see a
hex code communicating the unique color combination, which abbreviates the
3 colors
 Hexadecimal Code
Decimal
Color Binary Each color contribution
(red, green, blue)
is 2 symbols

White 255, 255, 255 111111111111111111111111 #FFFFFF

Gray 127, 127, 127 100110011001100110011001 #999999
Black 0, 0, 0 000000000000000000000000 #000000
Red 255, 0, 0 111111110000000000000000 #FF0000
Green 0, 255, 0 000000001111111100000000 #00FF00
Blue 0, 0, 255 000000000000000011111111 #0000FF
Yellow 255, 255, 0 111111111111111100000000 #FFFF00
Cyan 0, 255, 255 000000001111111111111111 #00FFFF
Magenta 255, 0, 255 111111110000000011111111 #FF00FF
Orange 255, 153, 0 111111111001100100000000 #FF9900
Pink 255, 170, 170 111111111010101010101010 #FFAAAA
Purple 170, 0, 170 101010100000000010101010 #AA00AA
 Using 3 bytes of information per pixel – 24 bits – allows us to represent 2 24
distinct colors (about 16.7 million)
 Using 3 bytes of information per pixel – 24 bits – allows us to represent 2 24
distinct colors (about 16.7 million)
 This is standard in a JPEG file format, and since it's estimated that the
average human can distinguish between about 1 million to 10 million
different colors, this provides a great file format for digital images.
 Using 3 bytes of information per pixel – 24 bits – allows us to represent 2 24
distinct colors (about 16.7 million)
 This is standard in a JPEG file format, and since it's estimated that the
average human can distinguish between about 1 million to 10 million
different colors, this provides a great file format for digital images.
 Newer high-resolution video standards are increasing that number: HDMI
allows pixel bit depths of up to 48 bits, allowing for 2 48 district colors, over
280 trillion!
 AP Computer Science Principles
Lesson 4: Text, Sound, & Images
as Digital Information
Rest of Class:
Any Questions?

Tomorrow:
• Lesson 5: Compressing Data