Understanding Vector Graphics

If you ever have the pleasure in any career to work with graphics, or graphic manipulation, things can get a little confusing. Most people think that graphics are images like any other picture, composed of pixels and forms. This "image," most people think, can be made to any size from a billboard to a business card. However, things are not that simple. When it comes to understanding graphics, they can be broken down into two types, raster graphics and vector graphics. The main difference between both can be easily described by the fact that vector graphics are not composed of pixels. Technically they are pixels when they are displayed on the screen, but the major technical difference can be found in the file structure. When the raster image is saved the information in the file is saved to down to each and every pixel it composes, which is why raster images are restricted in size. Yet with vector graphics the overall main key components are saved. These main components consist of the form; its lines, curves, colors, and points. This information is key and does not allow restriction of size.

To better understand this restriction, take for example a simple situation. A business needs to get a logo created for the branding of their company. Basically this means they need to not only approve a logo, but also attain a vector file of that logo. This vector file could be in the form of a illustrator file or AI. It could also be an EPS file. The type of file would depend on the software used to create it. Illustrator is a very commonly used vector program and is part of the Adobe Creative Suite. With this one vector file the company can create business cards, letterheads, supply assets to web developers, and create ads for magazines and billboards.

When it comes to raster images, things are a little simpler. Most people work with raster images and just don't realize it. They are pictures you take on your camera, or use for your computer desktop backgrounds. Any image that has a set size for example a JPEG, GIF, PNG, or bitmap file. These raster images can be shrunken down in size, but they cannot be blown up without ruining or pixelating the image. This goes back to the file structure of the raster images. With each and every pixel being saved down to specific dimensions, it would not be possible to use one raster file for all components of a company's identity. Understanding vector graphics can be very helpful or very confusing. Being able to differentiate between both could save you time and money. For most people, leaving the vector graphics to the designers would be the easiest option.