Raster (Bitmap) vs. Vector
Raster (a.k.a. bitmap) and vector are two very commonly used and extremely important file types in the world of graphic design. Although the two are both used widely, the differences are incredibly apparent and one is much more common than the other. Raster vs Vector: Comparing and Contrasting the two.
Bitmap and raster are interchangeable terms to describe the most commonly used type of image file.
Bitmap images are just as the name implies: Bits that make up an image. Because of this, the more enlarged the photo, the more pixelated it becomes.
Bitmap images are just as the name implies: Bits that make up an image. Because of this, the more enlarged the photo, the more pixelated it becomes.
- Bitmap images can take up quite a bit of memory.
- With sites like this one, bitmap images can be converted.
- Because of it's pixelated composed data, the file can be blurred and blocky when enlarged.
- Bitmaps are fairly simple to output - as long as whatever one is using has decent memory storage.
There are hundreds of applications that can be used to convert and modify bitmap images. From Photoshop to PaintTool SAI.
Types of bitmap files
- BMP: an outdated and limited file format.
- EPS: a flexible file format that can contain both bitmap and vector data. PDF is becoming much more popular.
- GIF: mainly used for internet graphics; generally moving graphics made out of several images
- JPEG: mainly used for internet graphics
- PSD: file format of Adobe Photoshop (which can also contain vector data such as clipping paths)
- TIFF: a popular bitmap file format
General color scales for bitmap files
- Grayscale
- Multicolor
- Lineart
- Full color
Vector drawings are less common than bitmaps, but they are generally used for business logos because the file is ideal for wide-range scaling for advertisements or logo sales.
Vector drawings are files that follow a mathematical formula. They are fully scaleable (for the most part) and are not pixelated dependent on the scaling.
Vector drawings are usually pretty small files because they only contain data about the Bézier curves that form the drawing.
Vector drawings can usually be scaled without any loss in quality. With exceptions, of course, such as:
- Drawings containing trapping information can only be scaled up to 20 percent larger or smaller.
- Thin lines may disappear if a vector drawing is reduced too much.
- Small errors in a drawing may become visible as soon as it is enlarged too much.
There are hundreds of applications on the market that can be used to create or modify vector data. In prepress, Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw are the most popular programs.
· EPS: the most popular file format to exchange vector drawings even though PDF is quickly gaining ground.
· PDF: file format that can contain just about any type of data including complete pages.
· PSD: file format of Adobe Photoshop.
· AI: file format of Adobe Illustrator.
· PDF: file format that can contain just about any type of data including complete pages.
· PSD: file format of Adobe Photoshop.
· AI: file format of Adobe Illustrator.
"Both bitmap and vector graphics can be printed, imported or exported between graphics programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, or posted on the Internet."
Read more here.