How does it work?
You can view things generated by your computer through the two common ways it outputs information: through the monitor and through a printer. Your computer must be told what kind of monitor and printers it is to use through special software applications called "drivers" in order to work properly with them. To make sure you have the correct configuration, it is best to buy a computer with at least a monitor, if not a printer as well, bundled with it.

To display graphics, your computer uses graphics programs to read files, just like audio players read sound files. There are many types of graphics files just like there are numerous types of audio files - and for the same reason: each graphics file format offers different capabilities in terms of compressing the file for storage and sending over networks in relation to the images' resolution or quality.

The most common image file formats for still images are "BeeEmPee" (BMP, which stands for Bit Map) and "Tiff" (TIF), which are great for printing photos. WMF is another format that is best for art that will be manipulated.