What is a raster file?
Raster files are images built from pixels—tiny color squares that, in large quantities, can form highly detailed images such as photographs. The more pixels an image has, the higher its quality will be, and vice versa. The number of pixels in an image depends on the file type (for example, JPEG, GIF, or PNG).
What is a vector file?
Vector files produce images by using mathematical equations, lines, and curves with fixed points on a grid. There are no pixels in a vector file. The mathematical formulas capture shape, border, and fill color to build an image. Because the formula recalibrates to any size, you can scale a vector image up or down without impacting its quality.
Learn more by clicking here.
What is the difference between raster and vector files?
Raster and vector files are the two most popular formats used for visual content. They represent images in very different ways, so there’s much to consider when deciding which one to use. Some of the main differences between raster and vector include:
Resolution: One of the main differences between raster and vector files is their resolution. The resolution of a raster file is referred to in DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch). If you zoom in or expand the size of a raster image, you start to see the individual pixels.
Raster files display a more comprehensive array of colors, permit more excellent color editing, and show finer light and shading than vectors — but they lose image quality when resized. An easy way to tell if an image is raster or vector is to increase its size. If the image becomes blurred or pixelated, it’s likely a raster file.
With vector image files, resolution is not an issue. You can resize, rescale, and reshape vectors infinitely without losing image quality. Vector files are popular for images that need to appear in a wide variety of sizes, like a logo that needs to fit on both a business card and a billboard. networthhaven
Use Cases: Digital photographs are usually raster files. Many digital cameras automatically shoot and save photos as raster files — and the images you see online are often rasters, too. Raster files are also commonly used for editing images, photos, and graphics.
Vector files work better for digital illustrations, complex graphics, and logos. Their resolution remains the same when resized, making them suitable for a wide variety of printed formats.
Some projects combine both raster and vector images. For example, a brochure may use vector graphics for the company logo but raster files for photography.
File Sizes: Raster files are generally larger than vector files. They can contain millions of pixels and incredibly high levels of detail. Their large size can impact device storage space and slow down page loading speeds on the web. However, you can compress raster files for storage and web optimization to make sharing faster and easier.
Vector files are much more lightweight than raster files, containing only the mathematical formulas that determine the design.
Compatibility and Conversion
You can open raster files in many different apps and web browsers, making them easy to view, edit, and share. Vector files aren’t as accessible — many vector file types require specialized software to open and edit the files. Though it can present some challenges, converting vector files to raster or raster files to vector when needed is possible.
File and extension types
Your software will usually determine your file type, whether raster or vector. Raster and vector files have multiple types and extensions, each with its own features.
Raster vs. vector files: frequently asked questions.
How do you know if an image is a vector?
You can determine if an image is a vector by scaling it up. It is likely a vector if the image retains its quality and does not become pixelated.
Is a PDF a raster or vector?
A PDF can contain both raster and vector elements, depending on how it was created and what type of content it contains.
Can you turn a JPEG into a vector file?
Yes, converting a JPEG (a raster file) into a vector file using software such as Adobe Illustrator or specialized online converters is possible. However, the conversion process may sometimes be flawed and require manual adjustments.
Is Photoshop vector-based?
Photoshop is primarily raster-based, meaning it creates and edits images using pixels. However, it does have some limited vector capabilities through tools like shape layers and paths.
Is Illustrator raster or vector?
Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based program. It is specifically designed for creating and editing vector graphics.
