What are raster graphics primarily composed of?

Raster graphics are primarily composed of bitmap images, which are made up of pixels. Each pixel represents a small part of the image, and when combined, they form the complete picture. One of the key characteristics of raster graphics is that they can lose quality or become pixelated when scaled up. This degradation occurs because enlarging the image stretches the existing pixels, resulting in a blurry or jagged appearance. This is in contrast to vector graphics, which are constructed using mathematical formulas and can be scaled indefinitely without loss of quality, and other options which reference 3D models or vector paths that are not applicable to raster graphics. Understanding these properties is crucial for graphic designers when deciding whether to use raster or vector formats for their projects, especially in contexts such as web graphics, digital photography, or detailed illustrations.