Game Time Graphics

Over the years I have been in the situation where I would have to try to explain the difference between a raster and a vector file. This very short and to the point tutorial will hopefully make this a little more easily understood by most customers outside the graphic design field, and some of them in it as well.

 

 

We have selected a tiny section of the helmet to provide this visual demonstration of the difference between raster and vector files. And a short description of both.

RASTER

First off a raster file is usually not easily enlarged more than 10 - 20%. If you keep zooming in on the image and it becomes jagged and or blurred, then you have a raster image file. The most common filetypes of raster images are: .JPG, .BMP, .PNG, .TIFF, .GIF, and .PSD

These type of files general are most difficult to change the layout and look. The hardest to change color and to resize.

VECTOR

As where a vector file is a file that can be zoomed in as far as you possibly can and the edges will stay crisp and clean looking. It can be reduced or enlarged without any loss of quality. The most common filetypes of vector images are: .AI, .EPS, .PS and .CDR

These type of files are also the most common among graphic designers. They are more easily edited and easier to change color than a raster image.