A binary model in computer graphics can refer to an image created using bitwise mathematical operations or an image consisting only of true or false pixel values. It is used for masking, procedural texturing, font storage and display, and other visual operations. Bitwise operators like AND, OR, NOT, and XOR are used to create a repeating binary pattern. Another use of the term involves storing images in a binary fashion, usually as bits of a byte.
The term “binary model” in computer graphics can have one of two meanings. It can refer to an image produced using binary or bitwise mathematical operations on two or more numbers to create a type of visual pattern. It can also be any image or sequence consisting only of true or false pixel values, usually stored in a sequence of bytes, such as a bitmap image. In both cases, the final image is produced by manipulating the bits of a sequence of bytes which, in turn, end up directly affecting one or more pixels of a display. Some of the uses of a binary model include masking, procedural texturing, font storage and display, and other visual operations that require an icon-like symbol rather than a color image.
In the sense of creating some kind of texture, a binary model is created by applying a bitwise operator to a number or sequence of numbers. Bitwise operators, which include AND, OR, NOT, and exclusive or (XOR), work by taking two bit sequences and determining a true or false value based on the condition of each of the operand’s bits. The normal result is an integer of a given length that can be split into red, blue, and green values for colors on a screen, or can be used as a single byte that is an index into a color table.
Different algorithms, loops or other factors can be used to generate a sequence of numbers which can be used with the binary operators to create a repeating binary pattern. An example of this can be seen in a program that XORs the X coordinate of a pixel only if it is evenly divisible by eight. This will create a binary pattern of vertical stripes on the screen that are spaced 8 pixels apart and increase in brightness as the X coordinate increases. The masking nature of bitwise operations means that the pattern can be applied to any existing image or color scheme to make the bars appear as lighter or inverted areas of the underlying colors rather than solid lines.
Another use of the term “binary model” involves storing images in a binary fashion, usually as bits of a byte. When the image is drawn, the sequence of bytes is treated as a grid, with each bit corresponding to a pixel to be drawn, although no color information is saved. This technique was used in early operating systems to store information about how to draw different characters in text mode, where each character was 8 bits wide and 8 bits high, resulting in an 8-pixel square on the screen when drawn. Some applications still use a binary model to store icons, such as the shape of the mouse pointer.
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