What Happens When You Render Vector Art as a Bitmap Image

Raster vs Vector

There are two main type of image files: Raster and Vector. Raster images are created with pixel-based software or captured with a camera or scanner. They are more than mutual in general such every bit jpg, gif, png, and are widely used on the web. Vector graphics are math-defined shapes created with vector software and are non as common; used in CAD/technology, 3D animation, and Graphic Design for processes that reproduce an image onto an object such as engraving, etching, cut stencils.

When using a raster program yous paint an epitome and it's like to dipping a castor in paint and painting. You can blend colors to soften the transition from one color to another. FIG.i

When using a vector program you depict the outline of shapes : and it's similar to creating an image with tiles of all dissimilar shapes and sizes. e.g. an centre shape, a nose shape, a lip shape. These shapes called objects brandish one unmarried color each. FIG.2

A lot of images tin can be made with either raster or vector program and look exactly the same on both programs. Images with a subtle gradation of one color to another are the images that will look nigh different since vector programs demand to create a separate shape for each shade of colour. FIG.3

Some vector programs practice have the ability to create color gradients within one unmarried shape, simply these are actually raster effects. A vector graphic with gradients contains both vector and raster elements and won't exist suitable for process that requires 100% truthful vector art such as cut or engraving.

Photographs are raster images and are probably the best instance of images completely made of color blends - or shade blends in the case of black and white photographs - and those images look very different when drawn in vector format. Click here for examples.

Pixels vs Vectors

Raster images are made of pixels. A pixel is a unmarried point or the smallest single element in a display device. If you zoom in to a raster image you lot may showtime to see a lot of little tiny squares.

Vector images are mathematical calculations from one indicate to another that form lines and shapes. If you lot zoom into a vector graphic it will always look the same.

A raster prototype has a specific number of pixels. When you enlarge the image file without changing the number of pixels, the image will expect blurry. When you overstate the file by adding more pixels, the pixels are added randomly throughout the image, rarely producing good results.

When yous enlarge a vector graphic, the math formulas stay the same, rendering the same visual graphic no matter the size. Vector graphics can exist scaled to any size without losing quality.

Vector Graphics

Vector graphics are scalable

Because vector graphics are not composed of pixels they are resolution-independent. Vectors can be scaled to any size without losing quality. Vectors can be printed as large and at the highest resolution the printer or the output device allows.

Color editing is unproblematic

A multi-color vector image can be easily inverse to a limited color graphic. Limited colors are often required past some processes such every bit embroidery, "stencil-cutting" vinyl signs, and specialty promotional items (such every bit logos printed on cups, pens, bottles, etc.)

Vector Outline / Wireframe

Vector programs brandish the epitome as we would normally see it and they also allows us to view the vector outline or wire-frame of each object. This vector outline/wireframe is of import to some companies because information technology guides the equipment they apply to create their products, such every bit engraving and cutting signs. It is also of import to some of these processes that the vector outlines are non overly complex.

For categorizing purposes I have named the to a higher place: photo-realistic vector, vector illustration, and vector lineart.

i. Photograph-realistic vector: Photograph vectorized using an automated tool and a multitude of colors to let the prototype to have a closer resemblance to the original. Nosotros rarely machine-trace photos and do not recommend it. This is an example of something that does not unremarkably piece of work equally information technology is too circuitous for processes that are guided past the vector outline such equally engraving & specialty signs. This vector image may be used in CMYK or digital printing simply photographs are best printed as they are: raster images. Learn more.

2. Vector illustration + raster effects. This is a mitt-drawn, simplified drawing. Colour blends can be created in vector programs only they are actually raster effects so this paradigm is Non 100% vector. The raster effects will evidence up as rectangle or foursquare "boxes" when the graphic is imported into specialty software. This epitome is also not suitable for processes that are guided by the vector outline. Samples.

iii. Vector "line art". This is 100% vector; NO Color BLENDS. The outline/wire-frame is acceptable for all processes. Samples

More almost Photograph Vector Conversion

Vector Graphic Common Uses

Vector graphics are commonly used for logos, illustrations, technical drawings, 3D graphics & animations.

We provide vector drawings for these services:

• Specialty press: e.g. coffee mugs, frisbees, koozies
• Signs and banners: cut, sandblasted, carved
• Engraving
• Etching
• Metal stamping
• Laser engraving or laser cut
• Decals, labels, stickers
• Large format printing

Raster / Bitmap Images

Pixel-based images represent and edit photographs and photo-like images improve than vector programs, because they can use an arable number of different color pixels. By arranging pixels and slowly incrementing or changing the color or shade of the pixels side by side to them, it creates a subtle gradation from one color to another: nice and smooth color blends.

Raster images' dimensions are measured in pixels. Considering raster images cannot be enlarged without losing quality, printers require that you provide them with files at the correct size: 1. the dimension yous want to print your prototype at, and 2. the pixel resolution for that particular project. The pixel resolution is the amount of pixels inside each inch called ppi (pixels per inch).

How large a raster prototype can exist printed - and maintain quality - depends on 2 things:

1. the pixel dimension of the image (e.g. 6824 pixels wide by 2345 pixels high)
2. the pixel resolution: pixels-per-inch (ppi), how many pixels per inch are required by the item printer

Unlike types of printing take unlike resolution requirements. On average:

Newspaper printing crave a minimum of 300 ppi
Shirt printers require a minimum of 240 ppi
Large format printers (banners, billboards) vary a lot because it also depends on the distance from which the sign is going to be viewed - could exist as low as 20 or more than than 200

How to determine what size your raster paradigm must be for printing:

Multiply the resolution required by the area to be printed. Example:

If a printer requires a minimum of 300 ppi and you lot want to print an paradigm in an area that is 5 inches wide, multiply 300 pixels x 5 inches = 1500. Your paradigm must exist at least 1500 pixels wide.

Can we enlarge the pixel dimension & resolution of a raster image?

Raster images have a certain amount of pixels within each inch. A 72 ppi epitome has 72 pixels in every inch. A 300 ppi image has 300 pixels per inch. When you are required to provide a "large or high resolution" image file (a specific size), the image must have been created or scanned at that size or larger (at both the dimension and the resolution required.) Eastward.G. if yous need to impress an prototype at 2 inches wide and 300 ppi is required, your image must be created, photographed or scanned at a minimum of 600 pixels (two in x 300 ppi).

In one case the image is created at a certain dimension, yous may not be able to use this image at a larger size without losing quality. When you manually increase the resolution with a program similar Photoshop, Photoshop randomly adds pixels and the outcome will most likely exist a high resolution prototype of poor quality.

Sample of a raster image below:

How to determine what dimension your image can be printed at adept quality:

Dissever the pixel dimension of your image by the resolution required by your printer. Example:

If paradigm is 1024 pixels broad & printer requires 300 ppi (1024 ÷ 300) = prototype can be printed at 3.413" broad.

If I am creating a new blueprint which software should I use; Raster or Vector?

It depends on the blueprint itself. If information technology'south going to have photographic elements with continuous tones and blends of colour, you lot are probably better off using a paint program. If yous desire your design to wait like a drawing or analogy with clear contrast between the elements of the design, then use a vector plan.

Ideally a visitor that has a logo design with photographic elements, also has a secondary simplified version of their logo in vector format that tin be used for those specialty items that require vector art such as plotters, engravers, vinyl-cut signs, promotional specialty items (cups, pens, bottles with company logo) Sample beneath:

Raster & Vector Summary

Raster (Bitmap)

• Pixel-based

• Raster programs best for editing photos and creating continuous tone images with soft color blends

• Do not scale upwards optimally - Epitome must be created/scanned at the desired usage size or larger

• Large dimensions & detailed images equal large file size

• It is more hard to impress raster images using a limited corporeality of spot colors

• Some processes cannot use raster formats

• Depending on the complexity of the image, conversion to vector may be fourth dimension consuming

• Raster images are the near common epitome format, including: jpg, gif, png, tif, bmp, psd, eps and pdfs originating from raster programs

• Common raster programs: photo editing / paint programs such as Photoshop & Paint Store, GIMP (free)

Vector

• Shapes based on mathematical calculations

• Vector programs all-time for creating logos, drawings and illustrations, technical drawings. For images that will be applied to physical products.

• Can exist scaled to whatsoever size without losing quality

• Resolution-contained: Can be printed at any size/resolution

• A large dimension vector graphic maintains a small file size

• Number of colors can be easily increased or reduced to adjust printing budget

• Vector art can be used for many processes and easily rasterized to exist used for all processes

• Can be hands converted to raster

• It is non the best format for continuous tone images with blends of color or to edit photographs

• Common vector graphic file format: ai, cdr, svg, and eps & pdfs originating from vector programs

• Common vector programs: drawing programs such as Illustrator, CorelDraw, Inkscape (free)

DPI vs PPI

DPI - Dots per Inch
This is the amount of ink dots the printer will put on each pixel of your prototype. The DPI is set by the actual printer device and it is not something in the prototype for the graphic designer to manipulate.

PPI - Pixels per Inch
Digital raster images are measured in pixels, or picture elements. How many pixels per inch is determined by the device you create the digital prototype with: photographic camera, scanner, or graphics software and tin can be modified with a photo/paint editing software.

All the images on this website have been rasterized for spider web display.

Is EPS Vector?
Vectorizing images with color blends
Vectorizing Photographs
Grayscale vs lineart

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Source: http://vector-conversions.com/vectorizing/raster_vs_vector.html

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