Image Vectorizer is here to make the process as fast and painless as possible! Simply drag an image in to the app and click to convert. Image Vectorizer creates beautiful black-and-white vector images. You can then copy the vector graphic to the clipboard or export it in a variety of different formats to use with your favorite vector drawing app.
Do you know the difference between a raster file and a vector file? Use this quick overview to differentiate the features of each file format for an improved design workflow.
Cover image via venimo.
With the numerous amounts of images to choose from online, it can be overwhelming to determine which file formats to begin with. Do you use raster or vector images? Raster images are made up of pixels, while vector images are formed by mathematical curves and paths. Being comfortable with the ins and outs of both formats and how they translate when exported is an essential skill for every designer. Let’s get started.
Raster Images
If you surf the web, chances are you have seen a raster image. Raster, or bitmap, images consist of tiny squares called pixels. These pixels contain bits of color and when combined, they build images. The more pixels in an image the higher the quality, and vice versa. When you zoom in on an image the pixels become more apparent while the details of the image become blurry.
Notice how the edges of the tropical pattern below become pixelated and jagged when magnified. This is a key indicator of a raster-based image. Obvious pixels make an image look unprofessional and unsightly. As a rule of thumb, it is best to only downsize a raster image to avoid heavy pixelation.
Image via NataliaKo.
Due to the abundance of pixels in a raster image, the file sizes can be substantial. An illustration with higher DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch) will be larger in size and data, which can be worrisome when there are limits to image storage or restrictions on uploaded file sizes.
Tip: You can quickly cut down file size by reducing the resolution to 72 PPI for online images.
When to Use Raster Images
Raster images are used in photography and digital applications. When you take a picture with a phone or a camera the image is recorded as pixel data, and when these images are uploaded online the end result is a raster image. To edit these images you need access to raster-based programs like Adobe Photoshop or Shutterstock Editor. For design work, it is best to use these programs for photography and imagery only; avoid using them to design logos and icons.
Raster To Vector Cad
File Formats for Raster Images
Raster files are saved in various formats:
- .tiff (Tagged Image File Format)
- .psd (Adobe Photoshop Document)
- .pdf (Portable Document Format)
- .jpg (Joint Photographics Expert Group)
- .png (Portable Network Graphic)
- .gif (Graphics Interchange Format)
- .bmp (Bitmap Image File)
While all of these display pixels, each file format has its own distinct display settings. Some files take up additional data and use higher resolutions, while others take up less storage but tend to be lower in resolution and quality.
Vector Images
Vectors use a different approach to image renderings. They are made of paths and curves dictated by mathematical formulas. These paths and curves are produced exclusively through design softwares designed for vectors, like Adobe Illustrator or Sketch. Due to their algorithmic makeup, vectors are infinitely scalable and remain smooth and crisp even when sized up to massive dimensions.
Even when scaled to substantial proportions, this pattern below remains clean and exact. Elements like fonts render the same way: When sized up or down, they retain their quality.
Image via NataliaKo.
A vector image’s formulaic makeup keeps file sizes to a minimum in comparison to its raster counterparts. This comes in handy when there are restrictions to file sizes or image storage. While a vector image file has many advantages, there are compatibility issues when shared. You must have access to vector-based programs in order to edit the native files.
When to Use Vector Images
Programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Sketch are best used to create and manipulate vector images. Avoid raster-based programs such as Adobe Photoshop when incorporating vector elements that need to be scaled.
Vectors’ scalability make them ideal for design work consisting of logos and icons. Both logos and icons require immense details and many size options, usually depending on their application. For example, you might use a logo on something as small as a business card or something as large as a billboard. Vectors are ideal for large or small format prints, because rasterized designs will lose quality when resized.
File Formats for Vector Images
Vector files can be saved or edited in these formats:
Best Raster To Vector Software For Mac
- .ai (Adobe Illustrator document)
- .eps (Encapsulated PostScript)
- .svg (Scalable Vector Graphic)
- .pdf (Portable Document Format; only when saved from vector programs)
Shutterstock’s collection of images includes tons of vector images available for download, like fonts, patterns, and illustrations.To view vector images exclusively, change the Image Type located under the search bar and select Vectors.
Searching for more graphic design essentials to expand your know-how and improve your workflow? Check these out:
Best Raster To Vector Software
Software development kit for CAD/CAM/ GIS and graphic software developers. Converts from raster to vector and refines architect, mechanical, tech drawing, maps, math graphs, graphics for books and journals and more. ActiveX and Com Component are also. ...
- r2vsdk.zip
- AlgoLab Inc.
- Freeware (Free)
- 2.67 Mb
- Win95, Win98, WinME, WinNT 4.x, WinXP, Windows2000
MacX Rip DVD to iPhone for Mac Free Edition is an easy-to-use and totally free DVD to iPhone ripper for Mac which can help you quickly and freely rip DVD movies to iPhone and convert DVD to iPod on Mac OS with zero quality loss.
- macx-rip-dvd-to-iphone-for-mac-free-edition.dmg
- Digiarty Software, Inc.
- Freeware (Free)
- 36.23 Mb
- Mac OS X, Mac Other, Other
MacX Free Rip DVD to QuickTime for Mac is totally free yet versatile DVD to QuickTime ripper software for Mac users to free rip both normal and copy-protected DVDs to QuickTime MOV, MP4 on Mac with excellent image quality.
- macx-free-rip-dvd-to-quicktime-for-mac.dmg
- Digiarty Software, Inc.
- Freeware (Free)
- 36.3 Mb
- Mac OS X, Mac Other, Other
MacX Rip DVD to Music for Mac Free Edition is a totally free software which can rip your favorite DVD to MP3 Music, DVD to MP4 for smoothly playing back on iPhone, iPad, iPod and other portable devices with 100% quality reserved.
- macx-rip-dvd-to-music-for-mac-free-edition.dmg
- Digiarty Software, Inc.
- Freeware (Free)
- 36.3 Mb
- Mac OS X, Mac Other, Other
MacX Convert DVD to MOV for Mac Free Edition is an excellent yet free DVD to MOV converter software which can help Mac users rip and convert DVD to MOV, DVD to MP4 with perfect output quality and high conversion speed on Mac OS.
- macx-convert-dvd-to-mov-for-mac-free-edition.dmg
- Digiarty Software, Inc.
- Freeware (Free)
- 36.28 Mb
- Mac OS X, Mac OS X 10.1, Mac OS X 10.2, Mac OS X 10.3, Mac OS X 10.4, Mac OS X 10.5, Mac OS X 10.6, Mac OS X 10.7, Mac OS X 10.8
Algolab Raster to Vector Conversion CAD/GIS SDK is a software development kit for GIS/CAD/CAM and graphics software developers. Converts from raster to vector and refines architect, mechanical, tech drawing, maps, math graphs, graphics for books and. ...
- Algolab Raster to VectorConversion CAD/GIS SDK
- AlgoLab
- Freeware (Free)
- 2.73 Mb
- Windows 9X, ME, NT, 2K, 2003, XP, Vista
WinX Rip DVD to Music for Mac is a free DVD ripper for Mac users to rip DVD to MP3 Music, DVD to MP4 files. It provides the best way to rip DVD to MP3 Music, DVD to MP4 format for iPod, iPhone, iPad and other portable devices. Especially designed for Mac users, this DVD to Music Ripper for Mac provides absolutely user-friendly interface, you can handle it without any difficulties even you are a novice.
- winx-rip-dvd-to-music-for-mac.dmg
- Digiarty Software, Inc.
- Freeware (Free)
- 9.08 Mb
- Mac OS X, MAC 68k, Mac Other, Mac PPC, Mac OS X 10.4, Mac OS X 10.5
Adoreshare Free QuickTime to iMovie Converter for Mac completely convert QuickTime format to iMovie video, so that it is compatible with iMovie quite well. Adoreshare Free QuickTime to iMovie Converter for Mac, as a simple yet powerful QuickTime movie file converter tool, can help Mac users easily convert QuickTime media file to DV, and then use iMovie to edit it. The whole process is as simple as 1-2-3.
- free-quicktime-to-imovie-video-converter.dmg
- Adoreshare Co.,Ltd.
- Freeware (Free)
- 53.12 Mb
- Mac OS X 10.6, Mac OS X 10.7, Mac OS X 10.8, Mac OS X 10.9
Add Item to Dock is a flexible, open-source tool, released for the benefit of system administrators, and developers.Add Item to Dock provides an interface to the defaults program, allowing you to add items to the dock via the command line. -. ...
- additemtodock.zip
- Lucid Information Systems
- Freeware (Free)
- 604 Kb
- Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
The Convert Raw to DNG action allows you to use Automator to drive all of your DNG conversions. You’ll need the Adobe DNG Converter 3.2 or later, a free download available here, as well as OS X 10.4 or later..Provides access to all of the. ...
- ConvertRawToDNG.zip
- Ben Long
- Freeware (Free)
- 31 Kb
- Mac OS X 10.4 or later
Takes you around the world as Sophia, a young adventure-seeker, perfume maker and shop owner in the 1940’s. You’ll manage a perfume shop, create scents, select from elegant perfume bottle inventory and sell your creations to customers.
- Passport to Perfume for MacOS
- PlayFirst
- Freeware (Free)
- 50.3 Mb
- Mac OS X 10.4 or later
If your iPhoto library contains thousands of photos and movies organized in hundreds of events, retrieving your media files may be a challenging experience. This is where iPhoto To Disk can help. Whether you need to backup your photos or movies to. ...
- iphototodisk.dmg
- Thierry Kondratuk
- Freeware (Free)
- 1.6 Mb
- Mac OS X 10.5 or later
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