These are the two most common files used in design, photography, and illustration. Vector and raster images decide your every step of work, right from choosing the software to producing accurate designs. The best photo editors include mainstay’s like Adobe Photoshop, the most popular software for raster graphics around, and it even has some vector capabilities as well.
- For example, a PDF created using Illustrator would be a vector file.
- How raster images are used depends upon the quality and size of any image.
- Hence for images that need to scale to different sizes, we use vector graphics.
- Here, lines, curves, and other elements are paths, whereas the formula is a vector.
- License these images via Westend61 on Offset, Lithiumphoto, olga_wanderer, and oxygen_8.
One trade-off is that high-resolution raster image files tend to be quite large and take up a lot of memory on hard drives and cloud storage apps. Rasters, on the other hand, are made up of pixels or tiny dots that compose an image using color and tone. Since their building blocks are pixels, raster images do not feature the kind of scalability that vector images do. Being significantly different in nature, the two kinds of graphics have different uses, strengths, and weaknesses. When you take a picture with a phone or camera, the image is recorded as pixel data.
Creation and Editing Programs
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. There are two main categories of image formats in the digital art world — raster and vector.
This is the reason that they cannot be used in different projects. But they are suitable for projects involving different software and for printing or designing digital images for the web. 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.
How to create a vector image
When you zoom in on an image, the pixels become more apparent while the details of the image become blurry. It is possible to combine vector and raster images in the same composition, but the file will have to be exported as one image type. Because it is easier to convert a vector to a raster, the exported file will almost always be raster. Because they are resolution independent but less capable of detail, vector images are better suited to design projects with variable sizes and minimalist styles. Vector images are created in vector image software like Adobe Illustrator. Using vector tools within the program, artists place points on the canvas, connect those points and give curvature to the resulting paths.
However, designers often choose to open and edit vector files in Photoshop. 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 raster and vector graphics (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. Raster images are ideal for photographic images, as they can capture a great deal of detail.
Choose Country
Most of the images that you see on the internet are Raster images. When you create an image by Raster programs the file types will be .png, .jpg, .gif, .tif, .bmp, .pdf, and .esp. Rasterizing an image changes the file from a vector format to a raster-based image. A rasterized image will no longer be composed of vector paths and curves, but will be made up of pixels, and you won’t be able to edit it using vector editing software. This makes them a friendly tool for printing marketing collateral.
This material can include everything from billboards to posters and business cards. Hence, they need to make sure their illustrations are scalable and can be enlarged or reduced in size as needed. You can use Vector and Raster images together when you to print a photo with a logo like a brochure, postcards, business greeting, etc. You can take the image below as a reference to decide what will work better with your project. Vector images also have the tendency to stand out with their attractive use of color, texture, depth, and layers.
What are Raster Image Formats?
The reality is that graphic designers have to choose raster vs. vector on a case-by-case basis. Some projects need the scalability of a vector graphic, and some projects need the high resolution of a raster image. That’s why brands like CorelDRAW and Adobe offer suites of products — to equip designers with the tools they need for any digital project. Raster graphics are made up of pixels, which are tiny dots that carry certain color information, and, combined together, they form an entire image. Vectors, meanwhile, have math as their building blocks and, consequently, do not offer the type of nuance that rasters do. Raster files are made up of pixels, are best to use when working with photographs, and typically larger files.
When these images are uploaded online, the end result is a raster image. To edit these images, you need access to raster-based programs like Adobe Photoshop or Shutterstock Editor. For design work, it’s best to use these programs for photography and imagery only. Because vector images are individual shapes created one-at-a-time by the artist, they are most useful for simplified or cartoonish styles. Because raster images are fixed pixels, they are resolution-dependent.
Vector vs raster: how they’re different and which is better for photos, logos, and more
Resolution applies to both raster and vector images, but it works differently. High-resolution raster images have more pixels for sharper details, but zooming in too far makes them blurry. High-resolution vector images can be scaled infinitely without losing quality. In raster images zooming in can cause some tiny squares (lose quality) to appear. 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).
Raster vs. Vector is a debate that will always rage on in the graphic design world. Both have their pros and cons, but what’s best for your project? It’s most important that you understand the difference between the two file types so that you’re best prepared to choose the right file for the right occasion. Raster images are suited for digital photos and large, high-definition prints. Below, the image breaks down the look of pixels and vectors when you zoom into their respective images.
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.
