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Develop your edge as an artist and designer with CorelDRAW’s Guide to Vector Design. Learn the basics of vector graphics and design, and feel empowered to tackle any challenge that comes your way.
There are two main categories of image formats in the digital art world — raster and vector. Both formats have advantages and disadvantages, and each is ideal for different types of digital projects.
Previous installments of this guide have covered vector graphics in great detail, from information about how vector graphics work to learning what it takes to become a vector artist. This chapter will provide more tips and insights about raster images to help you choose the best file format for your next graphic design project. That includes how they work, when to use them, and how to approach the raster vs. vector question.
As established in previous chapters, vector image files store visual data according to mathematical coordinates, mapping out a series of points, lines, and shapes to create a complete image. Vector graphics are infinitely scalable and ideal for various uses — from the smallest web icon to the largest billboard. Vector file sizes are typically smaller, enabling easier file storage and faster load speeds.
Although designers and artists love vector graphics for those reasons, there are still some circumstances where choosing a different image format makes more sense. Visit a previous chapter to explore the pros and cons of vector graphics, and read on to learn more about raster graphics.
While vector graphics are great for many digital design projects, there are certain instances where you’ll need a raster image to achieve the right outcome. There are several differences between raster and vector formats, from storing data within the files to ideal use cases.
The file storage method is one of the main differences between raster and vector images. Raster graphics store visual information as a two-dimensional map of pixels, also known as a bitmap. Zoom in on a raster image, and you’ll see the information it stores — data about the color of each pixel. Zoom out, and the pixels appear to blend seamlessly to create an image.
By contrast, zooming in on a vector image will not allow you to see individual pixels but the smooth shapes and curves of the elements in the image.
The most common raster image file extensions include:
Raster graphics allow for incredibly detailed, crisp, clear images — as long as files are exported at a high resolution and displayed on a high-resolution screen. Modern display technology, including 4K screens, can display stunning HD photographs and videos with complex details like small, dense textures and vivid color gradients.
Raster images are also easy to edit, and common software widely supports their file formats. One trade-off is that high-resolution raster image files tend to be quite large and take up a lot of memory on hard drives and cloud storage apps.
The most common and recognizable raster image use case is photography. Cameras replicate real-world scenes as accurately as possible by capturing as many pixels as possible. High-end cameras can capture images at an extremely high resolution. For example, Canon’s EOS 5DS camera can capture photos at a resolution of 8712 x 5813 effective pixels. Most 4K displays come with 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution, and traditional HD resolution is 1920 x 1080, also known as 1080p.
Virtually all photographs are in raster format — it’s simply the best format for that type of image. High-res scans of artwork are also raster images. Scanning is basically another form of photography, as scanners and cameras both capture a high level of detail in a similar way, using raster image formatting.
There are also times you’ll need to export a vector design to a raster format, especially for certain web uses. Not all parts of all websites support SVG files, so raster versions of your vector-based assets can come in handy.
Some of the most well-known image editors are designed for raster images. That includes many free editors, like Microsoft Paint and GIMP. Paid options like Corel PHOTO-PAINT and Adobe Photoshop are more powerful, with more features and tools for raster editing projects. Procreate is a popular software option designed specifically for iPad to create raster graphics on the go.
As each vector art software differs, raster image editing programs also vary. Do some research to determine which will work best for your needs.
It really isn’t fair to say raster images are better than vector graphics — or vice versa, because both have pros and cons. The main question to ask is not which is better overall but which is better for your specific needs and projects.
The reality is that graphic designers have to choose raster vs. vector on a case-by-case basis. Some projects need the scalability of a vector graphic, and some projects need the high resolution of a raster image. That’s why brands like CorelDRAW and Adobe offer suites of products — to equip designers with the tools they need for any digital project.
Understanding the difference between raster and vector programs and mastering the ins and outs of raster vs. vector image formats will help you create your best digital work. The next installment in our series covers the universal standard in vector file formats — the SVG.
Pros and Cons of Designing With Vectors
Scalable Vector Graphics - The SVG
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