

Raster graphics, because they are made of pixels, can amount to quite a large file size. While raster graphics are best for photographs and other types of images with continuous tones, when working with illustrations and graphics with clean lines and shapes, it’s best to use vector graphics. Raster graphics only retain quality if they are scaled down, but when a raster graphic is enlarged it becomes pixelated, and can look grainy or less clear. This makes vector files incredibly versatile, as a small image viewed on your screen can be scaled to the size of a billboard and remain just as clear. The main practical difference in the two types is that vector graphics can be scaled without any loss of quality. Vector graphics are made up of curves that form paths and shapes, defined by mathematical equations. It is difficult to print Raster images when the spot colours are limited, whereas It is easy to print Vector images as the number of colours can be changed at the time of printing.Raster graphics are also known as bitmap graphics, and are made of thousands of tiny pixels arranged in a grid to form an image.Converting a Raster to a Vector image involves complexity and is time-consuming, whereas Vector images can be converted into Raster images easily.Raster can be used in Photoshop, paint shop and GIMP, whereas Vector can be used in CorelDraw, Illustrator and Inkscape.Raster works best for photo editing, whereas Vector works best for drawings, illustrations, logos, and other technical imagery.Painting Raster is like dipping a brush in paint and using it on a real canvas, whereas, on painting vector, only the outlines of the images get coloured.Raster images are not scalable, whereas Vector images are easily scalable.


Raster uses GIF, JPEG, TIFF, XBM, PNG and PCX graphic formats, whereas Vector uses EPS, WMF, PICT, TrueType, and PostScript graphic formats.Raster images are those which are made up of pixels, whereas Vector images are those which are made up of lines, curves, and fills.Main Differences Between Raster and Vector This means that the print will turn out to be clear and crisp even when resized. Moreover, these images are ideal for printing as the numerical values can easily manipulate the colour and dimensions according to the printer’s requirements. However, they can always be converted into raster images with utmost ease.įile formats such as EPS, PDF, CDR, SVG, WMF and AI are most commonly used for such images. The number of pixels that need to be used for image creation is determined by the height and width of the image. These images can be viewed on paper, computer displays and other devices. Essentially, it is a mechanism that uses coloured pixels to make up two-dimensional images. The term ‘Raster’ is widely used in digital photography and computer graphics. Vector files cannot be modified or displayed in programs that do not understand the format. File A Raster file can be easily converted to other file formats. It is easy to print these images as the number of colours can be changed at the time of printing. Printing It is difficult to print these images when the spot colours are limited. Vector images can be converted into Raster images easily. Conversion Converting a Raster to a Vector image involves complexity and is time-consuming. They can be used in CorelDraw, Illustrator and Inkscape. Programs They can be used in Photoshop, paint shop and GIMP. They work best for drawings, illustrations, logos, and other technical imagery. On painting, only the outlines of the images get coloured. Painting Painting them is like dipping a brush in paint and using it on a real canvas. Scalability They are not as scalable as the latter. They use EPS, WMF, PICT, TrueType, and PostScript graphic formats. Graphic Format They use GIF, JPEG, TIFF, XBM, PNG and PCX graphic formats. Vector images are those which are made up of lines, curves, and fills. Comparison Table Parameters of Comparison Raster Vector Meaning Raster images are those which are made up of pixels. Graphic formats, including EPS, WMF, PICT, TrueType and PostScript, are used to save and share them.
