We often hear people say things like “vector artwork” or “vector format.” But what is vector exactly?
Let’s explore this meaning and what differentiates vector artwork format from others.
Vector vs pixel based formats
Let’s first talk about digital artwork. When it comes to pictures, things like photos, scans, etc. are composed of pixels. Merriam Webster defines “pixel” as any of the small discrete elements that together constitute an image (as on a television or digital screen). So, every digital photo is comprised of small color squares or circles that our eye perceives as an entire image. On a scale of a pixel size, we cannot see the individual color dots/squares, and instead, visually take in the whole image. Of course, if we were to zoom in to the picture on a computer, this becomes visible.
Simply put, these pixel images are programmed by a computer to represent each pixel by code that a computer can read and then render said image visually. Each pixel has a uniquely programmed color and tone. The pixel values can be extracted using various programming languages. Major image formats that tend to be very common are based on this principle of image rendering.
The following are some examples of pixel-based image formats:
JPEG/JPG – Joint Photographic Experts Group
PNG – Portable Network Graphics
GIF – Graphics Interchange Format
TIFF – Tag Image File Format
These images are also often referred to as “raster’ or “bitmap.”
On pixel-based images, the quality will be defined by how many pixels or dots are within an inch (PPI – pixels per inch, or DPI – dots per inch) and also how many pixels are there in the image overall. These factors are what is referred to as resolution of your image.
But what happens when you enlarge that picture? When this is done without adjusting the resolution, the image will lose quality and become blurry. If this is done to the extreme, often times, we can see the actual pixels start to appear.
Why does this happen? A file has a set amount of pixels. When the artwork is scaled up or down, you only have that predefined amount of pixels in the image to work with. So, when the picture is enlarged, now there are less pixels per inch, resulting in a poorer quality.
But where this can become even more evident, is when the image is resized multiple times. This can happen in programs such as Photoshop, where you have manually defined your resolution by the program you’re using. Let’s say you shrink your image down and your resolution is set to 100 pixels per inch. Well, the program is going to retain that parameter. In the original image you had 100ppi, but now you are shrinking the image down, and the program will keep only 100ppi, so it has no choice, but to delete the extra pixels. Then you change your mind and want to enlarge the picture back. The problem is, some of your pixels are now lost and we’re back to the scenario where the resolution will decrease.
Can I retain quality without using vector format?
There are some ways to counteract this process in programs such as Photoshop. For example, if you make the image you’re working with into a smart object, Photoshop will know not to delete the extra pixels in your artwork when you scale it down, and will preserve the original. Which is why it is common practice to make your layers into smart objects when working on your design. There are some Photoshop effects that cannot be used on a smart objects however.
Another option that’s available in Photoshop is using the program’s algorithm to create more pixels as you size a rasterized image up in scale. This can be a great tool when adjusting the size slightly. However, once you start reaching a much large scale (let’s say you want to double the size of your image), this can become problematic as your result will start to look a bit strange at that point. Since creating new pixels based on the surrounding pixels can only go so far before it starts looking like something different from what the original image represented.
Now where does vector come in to all this?
Vector formats can be scaled infinitely without loss of quality! Let’s see how and why this can be done.
The main difference for vector is in how the program you’re working on creates and renders a vector image. Instead of pixels, it uses coordinates and equations for positioning paths. You can think of paths as lines which can be manipulated in various ways to ultimately generate a full image. It can use geometric equations to create shapes and all lines can be formed into any shape you may desire. A good way to visualize this can be imagining an x and y axis where any shape or line can be planted.
The magic happens when you scale these objects. There are no pixels, only paths. And when you increase or decrease an object’s size, the program will use algorithms and formulas to scale just the paths, without having to worry about how many pixels there are per given area. If you were to zoom in on a vector image, no pixels would be visible (since they don’t exist in this type of format) and the smallest and the biggest objects would look crystal clear.
This means that any work of art created in vector can be manipulated in any way without any loss of quality. This remains true for both small and large images.
There are other benefits to vector art. Because positioning and equations are used to generate this type of image, this usually takes up less memory and computing power than an image with a million pixels. This in turn allows for the vector file size to often be much lighter than that of a pixel-based file.
For example, majority of fonts are made using vector images. This is why when you increase your font size, there is no pixilation of the letters and they remain crisp regardless of how big your font may be. Logos are also usually created in vector. Not only are they infinitely scalable, but shapes and minute details can easily be changed or transformed using paths during the editing process.
How do I know if I have a vector file?
Vector files will usually end in one of the following file extensions:
- AI – Adobe Illustrator. This refers to the program most commonly used by designers to create vector artwork.
- EPS – Encapsulated PostScript. This is an older version of the vector format mostly used by other drawing software than Adobe Illustrator. AI format was based on this.
- SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics. This is an XML-based vector format, ideal for web.
- CDR – a vector graphics file that stores a digital image encoded and compressed to be opened and manipulated by a vector editing software program. Files saved with the CDR extension are designated for use with CorelDRAW products as well as other Corel applications (1).
- PDF – Portable Document Format. This one is bit tricky. Many various file formats can be exported to a PDF, including vector. PDF has many benefits such as its ability to retain quality and layout. This makes it a very commonly used format to easily transfer files. For a PDF file to have the ability to render vector art, the design needs to be created as a vector and then exported to a PDF extension, with vector capabilities preserved into the file. Only then will it be an editable vector format.
So why is vector the preferred file type?
Because we care about quality!
At Stax, we want to make sure your print and design is of the highest resolution possible. We always ask our clients to send us their artwork in vector format if it is available. This allows us to deliver a sharp and crisp image when it comes to your stickers or labels. And if any edits are needed, we can make them while retaining the highest resolution of your artwork design.
Of course, we also work with pixel-based artwork and optimize our print depending on the design. And if you would like us to create a vector-based artwork from your current design, we’re here to help!
