Business

What is vector art?

Often times when our customers submit art for printing, we find that they have no idea what a Vector file is. Most people who are not professional graphic designers have no idea what vector art is (and why they should) and most companies do not have graphic designers on staff. There are even some people who work as graphic designers, who don’t know what a vector file is. (OK, that’s sad).

Hopefully, we can remove some of the confusion and answer the question … What is vector art? We will describe, to the best of our ability, what vector art is and how you can recognize it.

Vector art is one of the two art forms used by computers, the other form is bitmap (raster) art. Bitmap art is identified by file names ending in .gif, .bmp, .jpeg, .jpg, .png, and .pcx. Vector art files are generally saved as .eps, .ai, or .cdr files. Vector art is mathematical algorithms created with software programs, such as Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw, Quark, and a few others. These programs use mathematical equations and geometric primitives (points, lines, and shapes) to create clean, camera-ready art that can be infinitely scaled, without losing quality or clarity. The same art can be used for a business card, poster, or billboard.

A raster file is a dot matrix data structure that uses pixels (small dots or squares of color) to create an overall image. Rather it is called raster images or bitmap files, they are the same.

A bitmap is technically characterized by the width and height of the image in pixels and by the number of bits per pixel (a color depth, which determines the number of colors it can represent).

The raster art file has rough and pixelated edges. The art is distorted when the image is enlarged. Every time you edit the file, you lose some clarity.

Raster graphics, such as photos and graphics files created in Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, and other raster programs, can be used for some screen printing or digital printing applications. In most cases, especially with art like logos and numerous colors, printers need vector art to achieve the print quality you want and expect.

Common questions:

1. Can I convert a .BMP, .GIF or .JPG file to vector?

Unfortunately not. A bitmap file is created differently, and just like putting another cover on a book, it still has the same pages inside.

2. I converted a Photoshop file to .EPS, why can’t I use it as vector art?

Vector art images use lines to create images, photographs cannot normally be converted to a vector image. A raster or bitmap file uses points, they are not created in the same way. In a vector file, everything is a separate element. If you have an apple with a worm on it, you can change the apple to green at any time and the worm can turn into a tiger if you wish without disturbing or affecting the other object. Vector art must have been created as a vector file. You can’t take a raster file created in Photoshop (for example) and save it with an .ps, .ai., Or.cdr extension and magically convert it to a vector file. Once a bitmap is always a bitmap unless it is recreated or traced.

How do you know if a file is a vector art file?

You can usually identify vector art through the process of elimination. If it has the wrong extension, it is definitely not vector. I encourage clients if they are unsure about enlarging the image to 400-800% and if the edges are extremely rough and pixelated, it is probably NOT a vector image. If you still can’t tell, send it to your printer and they can let you know. The .pdf file can be vector or raster. It depends on how it was originally created.

I’m going to get a little technical here, hopefully not too much! The difference between these types of art files lies in how an image is stored within the art files themselves. Bitmap files consist of a series of numbers and colors that represent coordinates within the image area grid. To store a bitmap image, the computer creates a grid of the image area. (Pixels are the tiny dots. Remember dot matrix printers). That’s all there is to a bitmap file. A series of numbers that represent pixels and their colors.

Vector files look nothing like a bitmap file. A vector file contains the information to create lines. Contains a start point and an end point for each line. With those coordinates, it also stores a vector equation for each coordinate. A vector equation indicates both direction and velocity. Using these coordinates and vectors, the computer can draw a line from point A to point B with any suitable automatically created curve. Vector files sound really technical and complex to create.

Vector images have a number of advantages over bitmap images, including:

If you try to enlarge a bitmap image, your computer can only enlarge the size of the squares that make up the image area. You still have squares; this is why bitmap images become jagged as you enlarge them. Vector images stay smooth because your computer simply recalculates the coordinates of the points and adjusts the constants of the vector equation, without sacrificing quality.

Each set of lines in a vector image represents separate and distinct objects. Each object can be re-edited at any time. For example, suppose you created a vector art file with a circle in the background. You can open the vector file at any time and change the circle to a square, oval, apple, etc. Each object is a separate element within a vector file.

Please note that if a professional graphic designer created your art / logo for you, they should have saved your artwork as a vector art file, even if they didn’t send you that file. Some designers do not provide their clients with vector art, because most clients will not be able to open the file. If you had a professional logo designed for you, but all you have is a .JPEG file or similar, contact your artist and ask for the vector art file. Note that unless you have specific software to open the file, you will not be able to open it; but you can send it to the printer and they should be able to open it.

Keep in mind that in recent years I have seen professional graphic designers create logos in Photoshop. A Photoshop file is a bitmap (raster) and will generally not work if you need a logo for printing or promotional items. This IS NOT a vector file. Therefore, check with your designer carefully before he begins to design your logo or artwork for you.

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