Vector vs.

Raster

Objectives:

1. Identify the difference between vector and raster file

formats

2. Explain the applications of the two image formats

Raster (Bitmap)
 Bitmap was the original term used for identifying an image
with an array of bits . Theses images are uncompressed
pieces of information.
 Bits: are pieces of stored information
 8 bits = 1 byte
 1000 bytes = 1 kilobyte
 1000 kilobytes = 1 megabyte
 1000 megabytes = 1 gigabyte
 1000 gigabytes = 1 terabyte
 1000 terabytes = 1 petabyte
Pixels
Pixels: individual squares on a grid that makes up an image.
Each square is made up of a color.
Resolution: identifies the number of pixels. Often described
using dots per inch (dpi) or pixels per inch (ppi)
 Web Resolution: 72 dpi
 Print Resolution: 200-300 dpi
Raster artwork
(also known as bitmaps):
 are composed of lots of small dots. This lends itself to photographic or artistic effects because color gradations
can be made very smooth in a bitmap format. However, bitmap images lose their clarity when they are increased
in size because the dots get bigger. Take an image that's 10 pixels wide by 10 pixels high, stretch it to 100 x 100
pixels and it looks like it's made of big squares.
 Adobe Photoshop, the industry standard for digital photo editing, allows users to open and edit both formats;
however, when a file is opened in Photoshop, it can only be edited and saved as a raster format file. All vector
images (such as Illustrator AI and EPS files) will be rasterized, that is, converted into the small dots that make up
the raster format.

Common File Formats :

• Joint Photographers Expert Group (.JPEG, .JPG)

• Portable Network Graphics (.PNG)

• Graphic Interchange Format (.GIF)

Raster Editing Programs
 Microsoft Paint (licensed)

 Adobe Photoshop (licensed)

 Gimp (open source)

Vector artwork
(sometimes called line art)
this kind of artwork is made up of lines and filled areas only, which are mathematically drawn and
calculated (hence the term vector) by the software you use. They can be stretched in size without losing
any clarity or sharpness. Because of their mathematical origins, vector images are readily scalable without
distortion.

For vector image editing, use either Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape. Either program will also allow users to
import raster images into their vector files.

File Formats:
• Illustrator (.AI)*
• Encapuslated PostScript (.EPS)*
• PostScript (.PS)*
• Scalable Vector Graphic (.SVG)

* Both Illustrator AI and EPS formats allow users to place raster images within a vector file. The raster
image is not converted to vector format; rather it is simply embedded in the vector file, and is rendered in
raster format.
 Vector/Raster
When and Why?
Vector programs
make short work of  If you are working with mainly solid color objects,
manipulated text and
any solid color
manipulated text or many small objects, the clear answer is
work. that a VECTOR program will save you time.
 If you are working with complicated drop shadows, or
other 3D effects, texture or photographs, RASTER is the
correct choice.

For photo work,

only a raster
program makes
sense.

http://www.webreference.com/graphics/column31/4.html
Creating Vectors - TRACE
When you have learned to work well with a vector program, and are comfortable
drawing and editing anchor points in paths, you can import the raster image and
place it on its own layer.
1. Reduce the opacity of the layer to fade the image back (if available), or
draw a semitransparent white rectangle over the image.
2. Lock the layer containing the image to be traced.
3. Trace the objects on a new layer.

Tracing partially completed. The blue outline

shows one area that has been traced – this
area is now a vector object.

Note: Incorporate the raster image into the vector image if you are not going to need to
resize the image.
Properties of a Vector
 Path/Stroke: outline of a shape

 Fill: inner part or color of a shape; a shape can have no fill

 Anchor Point: strokes are created through a series of connected and unconnected
anchor points

 Bezier curve: curve created by a curved anchor point

Vector Programs
 Adobe Illustrator (licensed)

 Adobe Fireworks (licensed)

 Inkscape (open source)