It would be a pain to edit vector images with pixel-point precision, and the result won’t be as impressive as a raster anyway. Similarly, if you wish to create a very nuanced image that features complexity in terms of color, tone, depth, and content, go for raster graphics. Pixels have the ability to offer the kind of detail that vectors simply can’t.
Meanwhile, no matter how much you zoom in on the panther on the right, you will always see smooth lines. Another handy design resource is Shutterstock Create, a free raster-based image editor that lets users create and edit high-quality images on any device. Adobe Photoshop is one of the most popular raster-based editors available and has been used to edit photographs, create graphic designs, and illustrate. A vector image’s formulaic makeup keeps file sizes to a minimum in comparison to its raster counterparts. This comes in handy when there are restrictions to file sizes or image storage. While a vector image file has many advantages, there are compatibility issues when shared.
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Vector images are slower the more complex they are, so it takes longer for the computer to render them. However, once a vector image is loaded, it can be manipulated more quickly than a raster image. Raster images are best for displaying digital photography and graphics that have a lot of detailed and subtle gradations in color. And, because they’re more accessible and easier to view online, they’re better for using on social media and when sharing images to an audience who may not have the tools to open a vector image.
Design like a pro with an AI-powered editing platform for the everyday creator. License this cover image via Westend61 on Offset, Lithiumphoto, olga_wanderer, and oxygen_8.
Converting Raster to Vector (and Vice Versa)
This is especially common with brochures, catalogs, and other print projects that combine illustrations and type with photographs. Vector images are not as accessible as rasters, but you can save your vector image as a vector PDF for sharing, as that’s a format most users can open. As a graphic designer, raster and vector graphics it’s important to know the difference between raster and vector image types. When working with digital files, these are two terms you’ll come across often. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s essential to have an understanding of what they are and when to use each one.
Hence, they need to make sure their illustrations are scalable and can be enlarged or reduced in size as needed. It’s common to work with a mix of the two e.g. where you have a photo and other elements. The image below shows a comparison of how Vector and Raster images are created. Vector images also have the tendency to stand out with their attractive use of color, texture, depth, and layers. This gives businesses another reason to use them in their promotional content. Let us throw some light on the subject and explain the basic differences between them.
What is a Raster (Bitmap) Image?
As vector images are composed of mathematically-defined points, every change in color or tone would require you to create a new line, point, curve, and equation. A skilled designer using the best graphics design software can work wonders with a vector image. However, in terms of elements such as gradient, tone, color, and shadows, a vector image can never truly compare to what a raster image can offer. It is always going to fall short of the complexity and subtlety the latter provides. Vector graphics, on the other hand, are made up of plenty of paths, mathematically defined in terms of ratios, proportions, width, height, and other dimensions.
It comes without further saying that you will have the appropriate software in hand. If you’re one to surf the web, chances are that you’ve seen and used tons of raster images before. Whenever you take a photo with your phone, or take a screenshot on your computer, you’re creating a raster image. All digital images can be classified as either raster or vector.
Vector Images Explained
They showcase finer nuances in shading and light at higher resolutions. However, raster files, especially high resolution files, are very large. Vector images are quite lighter than their raster peers because their dimensions are defined by mathematical calculations and not by millions of pixels. The high efficiency of their file sizes makes them much more convenient to transfer them from one device to another. Plus, they carry a lot of information in a relatively small file size format (compared to the same file size of a raster image format).
- When you resize a Vector image the mathematical equations recalculate the curves, lines, and nodes, so the image remains sharp and clear.
- They often Some common vector files types are SVG and PDF files and are typically used for backgrounds, templates, and banners.
- The resolution of the raster graphics is formed by millions of square pixels, dots per inch (DPI), or pixels per inch (PPI), so their size is always a fixed value.
- They’re made up of paths, which are lines that connect to form shapes.
- This simple guide will explain the differences between raster vs. vector image types and go over the common uses, the pros and cons of each one, and describe when you should use one over the other.
In doing so, you’re asking the image editor to add more pixels where there aren’t any more. This results in an unattractive, blurred image—at least, in most cases. Certain printers might be better at printing photographs, so think about what you need to print before buying a printer. They often Some common vector files types are SVG and PDF files and are typically used for backgrounds, templates, and banners.
What are the differences between vector graphics and raster graphics?
Scaling down these images is easy but enlarging a bitmap makes it pixelated or simply blurred. Hence for images that need to scale to different sizes, we use vector graphics. Instead of relying on millions of tiny of pixels per inch, vector graphics use mathematical formulas to define shapes, lines, and curves. Imagine them like digital blueprints where each element is precisely defined. On the other hand, vector images are best for any project that demands scalability. As previously mentioned, marketing material such as logos and brochures are good examples of such projects.
They are ideal for use when an image will only be used once, and will never need to be enlarged, or if portions are coming from a photograph or other real-world image. I understand from prior knowledge that there are two different image format / composition options available for creating images; raster and vector. Generally speaking, there are also far more programs and apps that support raster formats compared to those that support vector ones. Knowing when to use raster and when to use vector in specific applications is an essential skill for anyone engaged in graphic design. They’re more flexible as each shape is separate and you can scale up and down as much as you like, but it’s harder to make the images look natural. Vector graphics are graphics in which the image is represented in a mathematical fashion.
Sketchbook Pro and Corel Painter are other common raster editors, and file formats for raters include JPG, PSD, BMP, PNG, GIF, and TIF, just to site the most common examples. Rather than being comprised of square-shaped pixels, vectors are made up of mathematical curves and lines, meaning vectors display visual information differently than raster images. So, while vectors are ideal for scalable logos, typography, and design, they’re not the best choice for photographic images. In the example image above, the raster version of the photograph (on the left) looks best.
