Vector graphic and Raster graphic.

Vector graphic and Raster graphic.

                                     Computer graphics can be create either vector graphic or raster graphics. Quite often, people wonder what the difference between the both image types are. They struggle in telling them apart and deciding which type is appropriate for their project.

1.Difference between vector and raster graphics.

The first factor you can notice between the vector and raster image is scalability. Vector images don't lose their sharpness and clarity while they are zooming in size. But raster images get blur and loss it's quality when they are zoom in size. Look at following extractions.

vector file.

vector file zoom in.

raster file

raster file zoom in

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Why?

The reason for this is how they are formed or created. Raster graphics are made by millions of square pixels, Dots per inch (DPI) or pixel per inch (PPI). So their size have a fixed value. The more you expand it quality get loss.

But vector graphics are made up of plenty of paths,functions,lines and shapes mathematically defined in term of ratios, Propotions, widths and heights. Every time you expand it lines,shapes,curves and nodes are recalculated. So image remains sharp.

2.Softwares for creating vector and raster graphics.

There are lot of softwares for creating raster graphics like Adobe photoshop (paid) ,

GIMP (free) , Fotor (free) ect. While there is few vector graphic softwares like Adobe illustrator (paid)

Inkscape (free) ect.

Uses of vector graphics.

Because of saclability, They perfect for multipurpose projects requring flexibilty in image size. A vector logos are most popular and higly demanding service you can provide as a designer to people.

vector logo

vector logo zoom in

Uses of raster graphics.

Raster graphics are also very demanding. Most of the people get service through designers as raster graphics. As a graphic designer you can provide brochures, flyers, book covers, T shirt designing service to others in a good price.

flyer design

book covers

3.File formats of vector and raster graphics.

Most of the times people get problem in open and edit vector graphics. You can only open and edit these graphics with a specialized software like Inkscape, Adobe illustrator. They come in common vector file extensions like .eps/.ai/.svg .

When comparing with vectors, Raster file formats are very popular and can be open with every image programs. Also, most digital images on the web are actually bitmaps even if they were vector once. Most popular raster formats are .png/.jpg/.jpeg/.GIF .

So if you are going to become a professional graphic designer, You have to work often with vector as well as raster graphics. So that means you have to learn both of them and you should be able to work with appropriate softwares for both of them.