Vector images represent mathematical calculations involving a point or place that form outlines or shapes(maintain quality.). Whenever one zooms over vector pictures, they look the same (infinitely scalable). When enlargement of images is performed without change of pixels, it looks blurry. If you add more pixels to the image the image becomes random and produces rarely excellent results.
The main question to ask is not which is better overall but which is better for your specific needs and projects. Choosing the right vector image format depends on your specific needs. If web compatibility and open standards are crucial, SVG is a great choice. For professional digital printing, or complex artwork with embedded elements, EPS might be preferred. If you’re working primarily within a specific design software like Illustrator or CorelDRAW, using their native formats (AI and CDR) ensures full editing capabilities.
How to Create a Vector Image?
This is one of the main differences between raster and vector images. It’s not uncommon to have both raster images and vector images in the same project, too. This is especially common with brochures, catalogs, and other print projects that combine illustrations and type with photographs. As a graphic raster and vector graphics designer, 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.
Instead of using pixels, vector images consist of geometric shapes, curves, and paths. Since they do not contain pixels, vector images can be scaled to any size with no loss in quality. The image will maintain sharpness and clarity even when it is enlarged. Of course, this is very helpful for printing flexibility when you might need an image in a very large size. Vector graphics offer scalability and precision, making them ideal for logos and illustrations. They have compact file sizes but may lack in capturing complex textures.
What is a Vector Image?
This makes them perfect for businesses looking to create material such as logos, brochures, merchandise, and so on. Moreover, and more importantly, the time and energy that it will take to make a vector resemble a raster is not worth the underwhelming result. 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. Both are essential tools for digital designers and content creation professionals, but outside of art school, you might not have really heard of either of these terms. Certain printers might be better at printing photographs, so think about what you need to print before buying a printer. 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.
The pixels get enlarged if you try to zoom the image that makes the image blurry. You can always scale down a Raster image to maintain its quality. If you look closely at a scalar image you will see many equally sized squares. As each vector art software differs, raster image editing programs also vary. Do some research to determine which will work best for your needs.
Can I use raster and vector in the same image?
However, they can be difficult to edit without losing quality, and they don’t scale well. Vector images, on the other hand, are much easier to edit and can be resized without any loss in quality. If detail and lots of smooth colors are more important, then a raster image is probably the way to go. If ease of editing, small file size, or typography is more important, then a vector image might be the preferred format. The main difference between raster and vector images is raster images are composed of pixels, which are tiny square units of color. When you zoom in on a raster image, you’ll see the individual pixels that make up the image.
The next installment in our series covers the universal standard in vector file formats — the SVG. Because they use many pixels, raster images are usually larger than vector images. As a result, such files take up a vast amount of storage space on your device or slow downloading speeds on your website. On the other hand, vector files take up less storage space because stored math formulas determine their design. Thus, vector images are composed of lines, curves, and points (anchors), all mapped out on a grid. Instead, they use mathematical equations to capture the shape, border, and color that build an image.
How to convert between raster and vector
Due to the level of detail, color, and grading raster images can provide, they are used for printing high-quality images. Raster files are thus used on billboards, flexes, and large posters. With raster files, you’ll typically use extensions like GIF, JPEG and PNG. It really isn’t fair to say raster images are better than vector graphics — or vice versa, because both have pros and cons.
Those photos taken with a 20-megapixel camera will take up more space on a memory card or hard drive than photos taken with an 8-megapixel camera. Likewise, very large files can also decrease the speed and responsiveness of your computer when you are editing them, depending on the specs and capability of the computer. Raster is the default format for photography, video, and web-based media. When it comes to illustration, raster is ideal for photorealism and larger scale images due to the amount of detail possible.
What Is White Space in Design and Why Should We Use it?
Raster graphics are great when creating rich and detailed images. Every pixel in a raster image can be a different color creating a complex image with all kinds of color and variations. Vector images, unlike rasters, can be indefinitely scaled and still retain their quality. Because of this feature, vector graphics are the primary choice for businesses when they need to design material for marketing campaigns.
In the example image above, the raster version of the photograph (on the left) looks best. The vector version of the image (on the right) is oversimplified, as vector programs visualize graphics in groups of solid colors. Choosing the wrong format can result in a loss of quality—a degradation of individual pixels that lowers image resolution.
What is a raster image?
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- Also, converting Raster to Vector is unnecessary as the printed images or photos captured with a digital camera are in Raster format.
- By understanding the difference between these two image types, you’ll be able to create better-quality graphics for your projects.
- Rasters, on the other hand, are made up of pixels or tiny dots that compose an image using color and tone.
- Both raster and vector images have their own advantages and downfalls depending on the project at hand.
- Understanding the differences in file types is essential so you can be sure you’re using the best option for your creative design project.