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. If you are dealing with photos and require extremely intricate editing, raster is the most suitable choice. It would be a difference between raster and vector 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.
For design work, it’s best to use these programs for photography and imagery only. On the other hand, vector images are made of equations translated into code and so they take up far less space. Since businesses need to store a large number of files on their devices, saving on space is just one more reason to opt for vector images over rasters. 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 Images
(Ordinary people don’t use vector graphics.) You can’t upload .svg files, normally, and not everyone has an editor (even though Inkscape is free). They’re made of paths and curves dictated by mathematical formulas. These paths and curves are produced exclusively through software designed for vectors, like Adobe Illustrator or Sketch. Due to their algorithmic makeup, vectors are infinitely scalable, and remain smooth and crisp even when sized up to massive dimensions. Even when scaled to substantial proportions, the pattern below remains clean and exact. Elements like fonts render the same way—when sized up or down, they retain their quality.
- Or, you might need to rasterize an image because you want to apply a Photoshop filter or bitmap effect that can only be applied to raster images.
- It is always going to fall short of the complexity and subtlety the latter provides.
- If you need to print the image on a banner or flex, you may have to rescale the image, so in this case, vector images will work best for you.
- On the other hand, vector images are made of equations translated into code and so they take up far less space.
Vectors images are smaller in file size as their dimensions are controlled by mathematical formulas. This makes them suitable for transmission, also they carry a lot of data in small file sizes. 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. A skilled designer using the best graphics design software can work wonders with a vector image.
When to Use Vector vs. Raster
However, since then almost all printers create the printed image as a raster grid, including both laser and inkjet printers. When the source information is vector, rendering specifications and software such as PostScript are used to create the raster image. To store the data in a file, the two-dimensional array must be serialized. The most common way to do this is a row-major format, in which the cells along the first (usually top) row are listed left to right, followed immediately by those of the second row, and so on. 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.
Raster, or bitmap, images consist of tiny squares—pixels—that contain bits of color. When you zoom in on an image, the pixels become more apparent while the details of the image become blurry. As a visual communicator, it is your job to put together the best, most professional products to deliver the right message to the right audience. Understanding different file formats and mediums is essential to help you communicate effectively. Raster images and vector graphics have different purposes in design, and it is essential for you to understand when and where to use them for the right purpose.
Explore Colors with the Adobe Color Tool
You should use Raster graphics for designing true-to-life graphics like shades, shadows, and gradients. If you require complex colors and flawless color blending like a painting, choose Raster graphics. This makes them suitable for multipurpose projects that require flexibility in the size of the image.
When you zoom in on a vector image, you’ll see the individual paths that make up the image. The larger the image, the more disk space the image file will take up. We use algorithms that compress images to help reduce these file sizes.
What are Vector Images?
Learn how to come up with your own poster design ideas and see the process of bringing your idea to life in an online image editing tool. 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. If you don’t want to spend money, you can take a look at any number of the best free Adobe Illustrator vector alternatives available online right now. Among free options, Inkscape and Vecteezy are very popular programs, and both feature a lot of robust tools to make your best vectors come to life.
Raster (or bitmap) images are generally what you think about when thinking of images. These are the types of images that are produced when scanning or photographing an object. Raster images are compiled using pixels, or tiny dots, containing unique color and tonal information that come together to create the image. If that technical explanation didn’t make much sense to you, think of it this way.
Images with simple designs, like repetitive patterns, are the easiest to convert versus detailed graphics. Below are a few steps you can use if you have a rasterization project. Knowing the pros and cons of raster formatted images can help you decide why you might want to choose this file format over vectorized files. You can identify whether an image is raster-based or vector-based by zooming in on it really closely. Vector images look smooth and crisp at any image size or zoom percentage—should you see any pixels, it’s a raster image.
These images are created by digital cameras, by scanning images into a computer or with raster-based software. Each image can only contain a fixed number of pixels; the amount of pixels determines the quality of the image. More pixels result in better quality at the same or larger sizes as the original, but this also increases the size of the file and the amount of space it takes to store the file. Resolution limits the size the image can be scaled up without being able to see pixels.
Vector vs Raster Graphics
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. Vector graphics are often used for product artwork because they’re scalable, meaning they can be easily resized for use on everything from matchbooks to billboards. Still, as previously mentioned, vector graphics are not ideal for displaying detailed colors and imagery, as they often appear too simplified when compared to their raster counterparts. Vector programs can also take longer to render objects with more complexity, such as a photograph or landscape.
