Raster vs Vector: Understanding Design File Types 101

Raster files are measured in DPI, i.e., dots per inch, or PPI, i.e., pixels per inch. A high-resolution raster image will showcase a variety of colors, resulting in excellent color editing. However, when raster images are resized, they lose their quality. With these mathematical formulas, vector images are infinitely scalable. Vector graphics are device-independent, so resolution quality doesn’t depend on your computer screen’s pixels or dots in your printer.

Programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Sketch are best used to create and manipulate vector images. Avoid raster-based programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, when incorporating vector elements that need to be scaled. This makes them a friendly tool for printing marketing collateral. So, if you are printing business cards or flyers, designing an e-invite, or working with a cute illustration, vector images will serve your purpose. While knowing when to use which graphic type is important, it can be easily as important to know how to convert raster graphics to vector and vice versa.

Vector vs raster: Which is right for you?

While a vector image file has many advantages, there are compatibility issues when shared. You must have access to vector-based programs in order to edit the native files. They’re made of paths and curves dictated by mathematical formulas.

But, if you can zoom in very close, even at 1000% or more, without seeing any pixelation, there’s a good chance the image is a vector. Before jumping into how raster and vector formats work, let’s run through some key terminology. If you want to create an image with intricate details mimicking natural textures like a digital painting choose Raster. If you are on a budget choose Raster graphics as they cost less. Converting a vector to a raster is as easy as clicking a button.

Online Raster to Vector Converters

It is always going to fall short of the complexity and subtlety the latter provides. The nature of a PDF file depends on the program used while creating the document. PDFs are mostly vector files, and only sometimes are they raster files. For example, a PDF created using Illustrator would be a vector file. However, a PDF created using Photoshop will get saved as a raster file.

To edit raster images, you must use raster-based programs or plug-ins like this PowerPoint add-in to edit your raster icons. Vector images are infinitely scalable as the mathematical formulas change when you resize the image. They retain their clarity and sharpness even when you enlarge the image.

What Is a Raster File?

If you look closely at a Vector image you will see seamless curves and well-defined lines. In Raster images the resolution is made up of thousands of square pixels, pixels per inch (PPI) or dots per inch (DPI). Their size is always fixed so if you expand a Raster image it will become blurry.

• The vector image consists of mathematical formulas that control the path of the image.
• Choosing the right vector image format depends on your specific needs.
• This is a screenshot of the farmer’s face on the example vector logo from above, zoomed in as far as the computer would allow.
• This is the reason that they cannot be used in different projects.

Vector graphics allow creatives to build high-quality works of art, with clean lines and shapes that can be scaled to any size. Vector graphics are great for simplistic, or geometrical images such as logos, icons, illustrations, graphs, and typography. Vector images are slower the more complex raster and vector graphics 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.

The Difference Between Vector And Raster Images

The raster vs. vector decision mostly comes down to scalability. Be sure to think about the ways a design will be used and how that could impact the size. Also, consider the level of detail in the image to know if it should be a raster/bitmap or vector image. Choosing the right file type isn’t difficult when you understand the key differences. 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.

That’s why it’s essential for graphic designers to be comfortable with both formats and understand how they translate when exported. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about working with raster and vector files. The file storage method is one of the main differences between raster and vector images. Raster graphics store visual information as a two-dimensional map of pixels, also known as a bitmap. Zoom in on a raster image, and you’ll see the information it stores — data about the color of each pixel.

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. They are photographs of some sort, which makes JPEGs raster images.

Since raster graphics are made up of square-shaped pixels, they’re best for displaying more detailed images and subtle gradations in colored pixels. Because raster images are more readily available in common file formats, they’re more accessible across multiple applications. They’re also easier to view and share online, especially on social media and through web image browsers.

What Is The Difference Between Vector and Raster?

Vector graphics are ideal for print designs due to the fact that they are resolution independent. Their infinite scalability and simplified shapes make them perfect for designs like logos that must be adaptable and easily edited for a variety of contexts. While vectors do incorporate math, you can leave your advanced calculus degree at the door when working with them. Native tools in programs like Adobe Illustrator allow designers to create vector graphics quickly and easily. We’ll look at the nuances between raster vs. vector images and help you decide which format fits your project.