BASIC ADOBE

PHOTOSHO
P
 LESSON 7:

RASTER vs VECTOR
GRAPHICS
Contents
01 Two main type of Image file

02 Raster Graphics

03 Vector Graphics

04 DPI versus PPI

 There are two main types of image files:

Raster & Vector

Raster images are created with pixel-based programs or
captured with a camera or scanner. They are more
common in general such as jpg, gif, png, and are widely
used on the web.
 Raster
images
 Vector graphics are created with vector software and are
common for images that will be applied onto a physical
product. Also used in CAD, engineering, and 3D graphics.
 Vector
graphics.
 RASTER (Bitmap)
When using a raster program you paint an image
and it's similar to dipping a brush in paint and
painting. You can blend colors to soften the
transition from one color to another.
 RASTER (Bitmap)
Raster images are made of pixels. A pixel is a
single point or the smallest single element in a
display device. If you zoom in to a raster image
you may start to see a lot of little tiny squares.
 VECTOR
When using a vector program you draw the outline
of shapes: and it's similar to creating an image with
tiles of all different shapes and sizes. These shapes
called objects display one single color each.
A lot of images 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 most different since vector programs need to
create a separate shape for each shade of color.
Some vector programs do have the ability to create color
gradients within one single shape, but these are actually raster
effects.
A vector graphic with gradients contains both vector and
raster elements and won't be suitable for process that
requires 100% vector or true vector art.
Photographs are raster images and are probably the best example 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.
 A raster image has a specific number of pixels.
When you enlarge the image file without changing the number of
pixels, the image will look blurry.
 When you enlarge a vector graphic, the math formulas stay the same,
rendering the same visual graphic no matter the size. Vector graphics can be
scaled to any size without losing quality.
Raster VERSUS Vector
(SUMMARY)
RASTER GRAPHICS
Pixel-based 1

4
1
5
 RASTER GRAPHICS
1
Best for editing photos and creating
continuous tone images with soft color 2

2
blends

5
 RASTER GRAPHICS
1

Do not scale up optimally, tends to produce

blurry images
3

4
3
5
 RASTER GRAPHICS
1

Large dimensions & detailed images equal

large file size
3

4
4
5
 RASTER GRAPHICS
1

It is more difficult to print using a limited amount

4
5
5
of spot colors
 RASTER GRAPHICS
Some processes cannot use raster formats
6

9
6
10
 RASTER GRAPHICS
6
Depending on the complexity of the image,
conversion to vector may be time consuming 7

9
7
 RASTER GRAPHICS
6

8
Raster images are the most common image
format, including: jpg, gif, png, tif, bmp,
psd, eps and pdfs originating from raster 8
programs

9
 RASTER GRAPHICS
6

Common raster programs: photo editing /

paint programs such as Photoshop & Paint
Shop, GIMP (free)
8

9
9
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
Mathematical calculations that form shapes
1

4
1
5
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
1
Best for creating logos, drawings and
illustrations, technical drawings. 2

4
2
5
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
1

Can be scaled to any size without losing

quality
3

4
3
5
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
1

Resolution-independent: Can be printed at

any size/resolution
3

4
4
5
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
1

A large dimension vector graphic maintains a

4
5
5
small file size
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
Number of colors can be easily increased or
reduced to adjust printing budget 6

9
6
10
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
6
Vector art can be used for many processes
and easily rasterized to be used for all 7

7
processes

10
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
6

Can be easily converted to raster 8

9
8
10
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
6

It is not the best format for continuous tone

images with blends of color or to edit
photographs
8

9
9
10
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
6

9
Common vector graphic file format: ai, cdr, svg, and
1
eps & pdfs originating from vector programs 10
 VECTOR GRAPHICS
Common vector programs: drawing programs
1
such as Illustrator, CorelDraw, Inkscape (free) 1

1
VERSUS
 DPI
DPI - Dots per Inch
• This is the amount of ink
dots the printer will put on
each pixel of your image.
• The DPI is set by the actual
printer device and it is not
something in the image for
the graphic designer to
manipulate.
 PPI
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 image with:
camera, scanner, or graphics
software and can be modified with
a photo/paint editing software.
 DPI
DPI - Dots per Inch
• This is the amount of ink
dots the printer will put on
each pixel of your image.
• The DPI is set by the actual
printer device and it is not
something in the image for
the graphic designer to
manipulate.
PPI
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 image with:
camera, scanner, or graphics
software and can be modified with
a photo/paint editing software.
QUESTION
S?
Thank You!