Raster vs Vector Files: Key Differences and When To Use Them

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. Vectors’ scalability make them ideal for design work consisting of logos and icons. Both logos and icons require immense detail and many size options, usually depending on their application. For example, you might use a logo on something as small as a business card or something as large as a billboard. Vectors are ideal for both large and small format prints, because rasterized designs will lose quality when resized.

Raster images have large file size defined by DPI or PPI with fixed height and width. To transfer Raster files, it’s a good idea to compress them first. These paths are defined in terms of proportions, ratio, height, width, and other dimensions. When you resize a Vector image the mathematical equations recalculate the curves, lines, and nodes, so the image remains sharp and clear. Apart from offering flexibility in terms of scalability, vector graphics also provide ease in duplication. This makes them perfect for businesses looking to create material such as logos, brochures, merchandise, and so on.

Raster and Vector Images Explained

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. Thus, vector images are useful for designing company logos as we need to size up or down the images to print them on various promotional materials like banners, pamphlets, brochures, etc. In this content, we will explore the possible differences between the raster and vector images. 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.

Here’s how you convert vector images into a raster file with two simple steps. Most often they are vector files, but it depends on what program was used to create it. For example, if the PDF was created in Photoshop, it will be saved as a raster file.

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Each raster grid has a specified pixel format, the data type for each number. Most modern color raster formats represent color using 24 bits (over 16 million distinct colors), with 8 bits (values 0–255) for each color channel (red, green, and blue). Vector and difference between raster and vector raster file formats have different uses in design and photography. Raster file formats are more commonly used in photography, whereas vector images are more commonly used in digital design. They’re made up of paths, which are lines that connect to form shapes.

For example, converting a raster image to vector is best reserved for simplistic designs rather than photographs and portraits. Each of the following file formats displays pixels, and each has its own distinct display settings. Others take up less storage, but tend to be lower in resolution and quality. Vector images are only compatible with Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, and InkScape. This makes them inconvenient for mass use in multipurpose projects. When you create an image with Vector programs the file types will be .ai, .svg, .eps, .pdf, and .cdr.

Printing

Raster graphics are resolution dependent, meaning they cannot scale up to an arbitrary resolution without loss of apparent quality. This property contrasts with the capabilities of vector graphics, which easily scale up to the quality of the device rendering them. Raster graphics deal more practically than vector graphics with photographs and photo-realistic images, while vector graphics often serve better for typesetting or for graphic design. Typically, a resolution of 150 to 300 PPI works well for 4-color process (CMYK) printing. 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.

And sometimes, a PDF can contain raster images, like JPEGs and PNGs as well as vector images. Choosing the wrong format can result in a loss of quality—a degradation of individual pixels that lowers image resolution. 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. On the other hand, vector images are best for any project that demands scalability.

What Is a Vector Image?

However, once a vector image is loaded, it can be manipulated more quickly than a raster image. 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. Programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Sketch are best used to create and manipulate vector images.

• In both cases some information is lost, although certain vectorization operations can recreate salient information, as in the case of optical character recognition.
• A vector graphic’s small file size and scalability make it uniquely suitable for use in digital printing from business cards to billboards.
• If you look closely at a Vector image you will see seamless curves and well-defined lines.
• Raster images can easily become blurry when expanded and aren’t typically scalable.
• So, you’ll probably have to download that specific program if you want to make edits to the image.

Raster images are ideal for photographic images, as they can capture a great deal of detail. 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.

Advantages of Raster Images

As previously mentioned, marketing material such as logos and brochures are good examples of such projects. The ease vectors offer in terms of being resized without losing quality is incomparable to raster images being scaled up or down. Vectors are also ideal for when you want to store a large number of files without compromising on your storage space. Vector graphics are also known as scalable vector graphics (SVG).

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. Adobe Photoshop is one of the most popular raster-based editors available and has been used to edit photographs, create graphic designs, and illustrate.

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. You must have access to vector-based programs in order to edit the native files.