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Tamil Nadu (TNBSE)Class 7 Science★ 3-6 marks in the TN Class 7 Term 1 exam through book-back MCQs and short answers on graphics

Visual Communication (Term 1) - Graphics and Animation

Samacheer Kalvi (TN State Board) Class 7 Science — Term 1 Chapter 7, Visual Communication. Raster and vector graphics, 2D and 3D images, animation, image-editing software (Photoshop) and making a photo story, with the actual book-back questions, common mistakes and quick revision.

⏱ 13 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Differentiate raster and vector graphics
2Explain 2D and 3D images
3Describe animation
4Identify image-editing software
5Use the Import Pictures option in Photostory

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Why this chapter matters

Visual Communication builds digital-literacy skills in graphics, images and software. Raster vs vector graphics, 2D vs 3D and image software are directly tested book-back content in the TN Class 7 Term 1 exam.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Class 6 — Computer basics

Using a computer.

Visual Communication (Graphics and Animation) — Class 7 Science (Samacheer Kalvi)

TN State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 7 Science, Term 1 — Chapter 7 (Computer Science). Graphics, images and animation.

1. About this chapter

This chapter covers raster and vector graphics, 2D and 3D images, animation, and photo/image software.

2. Raster and vector graphics

Raster graphics are made of tiny dots called pixels. Photos taken by a camera and photos scanned by a scanner are raster images; when enlarged, they appear as rectangular grids/blocks.
Vector graphics are made of lines and curves defined mathematically, so they stay sharp when resized; they are used to create symbols and logos.

3. 2D, 3D and animation

2D (two-dimensional) images have only length and height; 3D (three-dimensional) images have length, height and width and look real, as in the world around us.
Animation is a series of images shown quickly to give the illusion of movement.

4. Software

Photoshop is image-editing software used mostly by photographers to edit pictures.
In Microsoft Photostory, the Import Pictures option is used to upload photos to make a photo story.

5. Worked examples

Example 1. On what are raster graphics based? Pixels.

Example 2. Which software is used to create symbols? Vector graphics software.

Example 3. How many dimensions does a 3D image have? Three — length, height and width.

6. Book-back questions (Samacheer Kalvi)

I. Choose the correct answer

Photos taken by a camera are of the ____ type — (a) vector / (b) raster. Ans: (b) raster.
Software used mostly by a photographer is — (a) Tux Paint / (b) Photoshop. Ans: (b) Photoshop.
In Microsoft Photostory, photos are uploaded using — (a) Export / (b) Import Pictures. Ans: (b) Import Pictures.
Symbols are created using — (a) raster graphics / (b) vector graphics. Ans: (b) vector graphics.

II. Fill in the blanks 5. Raster graphics are created on the basis of pixels. 6. A 2D image has length and height; a 3D image also has width.

III. Answer briefly 7. What are raster graphics? — Images made of pixels (e.g. camera or scanned photos) that look like grids when enlarged. 8. Differentiate 2D and 3D images. — 2D has length and height only; 3D has length, height and width and looks real.

7. Common mistakes

Mistake: Saying enlarged camera photos stay sharp. Fix: Raster (pixel) images look like grids/blocks when enlarged; vector images stay sharp.
Mistake: Confusing 2D and 3D. Fix: 2D = length + height; 3D = length + height + width.
Mistake: Using the wrong option to add photos in Photostory. Fix: Use Import Pictures to upload photos.

8. Quick revision

Term 1 · Ch 7 · visual communication.
Raster graphics = pixels (camera/scanned photos, grids when enlarged); vector graphics = lines/curves (symbols, stay sharp).
2D = length + height; 3D = length + height + width; animation = rapid images giving movement.
Photoshop = photo editing; Photostory uses Import Pictures to upload photos.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Raster graphics

made of pixels (camera/scanned photos)

Grids when enlarged.

Vector graphics

lines and curves; used for symbols

Stay sharp when resized.

2D vs 3D

2D = length + height; 3D = length + height + width

3D looks real.

Software

Photoshop (editing); Photostory → Import Pictures

Photographers use Photoshop.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Saying enlarged camera photos stay sharp

✓ Raster (pixel) images look like grids when enlarged; vector images stay sharp.

WATCH OUT

✗ Confusing 2D and 3D

✓ 2D = length + height; 3D = length + height + width.

WATCH OUT

✗ Using the wrong option to add photos in Photostory

✓ Use Import Pictures to upload photos.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Choose the correct answer

Book-back MCQs on raster, Photoshop, Photostory and vector graphics.

Questions

Fill in the blanks

Pixels and dimensions.

Questions

Answer briefly

Raster graphics and 2D vs 3D.

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· MCQ

Photos taken by a camera are of the ____ type.

▶ Show solution

raster.

Q2EASY· MCQ

Symbols are created using ____.

▶ Show solution

vector graphics.

Q3EASY· Fill in the blanks

Raster graphics are created on the basis of ____.

▶ Show solution

pixels.

Q4EASY· MCQ

In Microsoft Photostory, photos are uploaded using ____.

▶ Show solution

Import Pictures.

Q5MEDIUM· Answer briefly

Differentiate 2D and 3D images.

▶ Show solution

A 2D image has only length and height, while a 3D image has length, height and width and appears lifelike.

Q6EASY· Answer briefly

What are raster graphics?

▶ Show solution

Images made of tiny dots called pixels — such as camera or scanned photos — which look like rectangular grids when enlarged.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Term 1 Chapter 7 of Samacheer Kalvi Class 7 Science (Computer Science).
•Raster graphics are made of pixels (camera/scanned photos) and look like grids when enlarged.
•Vector graphics are made of lines and curves and are used to create symbols.
•A 2D image has length and height; a 3D image has length, height and width.
•Animation shows images quickly to give the illusion of movement.
•Photoshop edits photos; Photostory uses Import Pictures to upload photos.

Tamil Nadu (TNBSE) marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 3-6 marks across graphics questions

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
MCQ / Fill	1	3-4	Raster/vector, software
Short Answer	2	1-2	2D vs 3D, raster graphics

Prep strategy

Link raster to pixels and vector to lines
Remember 2D = 2 dimensions, 3D = 3
Pair Photoshop with photographers
Use Import Pictures in Photostory

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Photography

Editing photos with software like Photoshop.

Design

Vector graphics make scalable logos and symbols.

Media

Animation and 3D images are used in films and games.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Pair raster with pixels, vector with symbols
State the dimensions for 2D and 3D
Name Photoshop for photo editing
Recall Import Pictures in Photostory

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Explain why a logo is better stored as a vector than a raster image.
Describe how a flip-book demonstrates animation.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

TN Class 7 Term 1 ExamMedium

Computer / ICT testsMedium

School unit testsHigh

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

Because they are raster images made of a fixed number of pixels; enlarging them stretches each pixel into a visible square, so the picture looks like a grid of blocks.

For symbols, logos and line art that must stay sharp at any size, because vector graphics are defined by mathematical lines and curves rather than fixed pixels.

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