Knowing when to use raster and when to use vector in specific applications is an essential skill for anyone engaged in graphic design. Topology rules can help data integrity with vector data models. Not only that, network analysis and proximity operations use vector data structures. Continuous rasters (non-discrete) are grid cells with gradually changing data such as elevation, temperature, or an aerial photograph. For example, one grid cell represents a land cover class or a soil type. For example, maps show rivers, roads, and pipelines as vector lines.
Vector programs display the image as we would normally see it and they also allows us to view the vector outline or wire-frame of each object. This vector outline/wireframe is important to some companies because it guides the equipment they use to create their products, such as engraving and cut signs. It is also important to some of these processes that the vector outlines are not overly complex. When you enlarge the image file without changing the number of pixels, the image will look blurry.
What is a vector image?
Paths can be combined and altered to create complicated shapes and designs. Before we get to the differences, what is a vector vs. raster image? Unlike points, vector lines are used to represent linear features such as roads, streams, and trails, and since they have a start and an endpoint, you can measure their length. And finally, vector polygons are used to represent the boundaries and area of a feature.
Vector graphics can be made with specialized software such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and Inkscape. These tools allow designers to generate, edit, and modify vector objects with precision and ease. Common vector creation and editing programs include Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, and InkScape. The most popular raster editors are Photoshop (which has limited vector capabilities) and GIMP. Below we can see vector data being used to convey building heights across New York City (open in full screen here) – notice how every building is a distinct feature.
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When you take a picture with a phone or camera, the image is recorded as pixel data. 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 raster and vector graphics or Shutterstock Editor. For design work, it’s best to use these programs for photography and imagery only. Choosing the wrong format can result in a loss of quality—a degradation of individual pixels that lowers image resolution.
Vector-based data is often made up of various lines, shapes, and curves. The resolution of vector images is often dictated by mathematical equations. That is why you’ll sometimes hear someone refer to the lines, shapes, and curves of a vector-based graphic as vertices and paths. Nonetheless, worry not as this does not mean you’ll be dealing with calculus during editing. It simply means that your image will retain its quality regardless of how you enlarge it. Other than, you also need not worry about extra space because even when enlarged, a vector-image uses relatively less space.
Advantages Of Raster Models
When you join a set of vertices in a particular order and close it, this is now a vector polygon feature. When you create a polygon, the first and last coordinate pairs are the same. License these images via Westend61 on Offset, Lithiumphoto, olga_wanderer, and oxygen_8. In the end, it really comes down to how the cartographer conceptualizes the feature on their map.
This is a dilemma that even the most experienced photographers, graphic designers, or webmasters face every once in a while. So if you’re a newbie to the mentioned fields and find yourself in such a tight-spot, fret not. Instead, take time to fully understand what each file format brings to the table. While at it, also ensure you get a high-quality video converter like the one from Movavi for more straightforward file conversion. Having a clear understanding of the perks of each format makes choosing the perfect one for your project seamless. It also makes it easy for you to explain to a client why it’s not possible to enlarge their regular family photograph into a ten-foot canvas.
How to determine what size your raster image must be for printing:
Understanding different file formats and mediums is essential to help you communicate effectively. Raster images and vector graphics have different purposes in design, and it is essential for you to understand when and where to use them for the right purpose. While attribute data is always represented in tabular format, geospatial data is a bit more varied, as it can be represented in either vector or raster forms.
- Raster images are best for digital photos and print materials.
- Explore global human activity, night light intensity & telecom infrastructure spatial data.
- The pixels in a raster image work in the same manner, which provides for rich details and pixel-by-pixel editing.
- Other examples include postcards printing that have an illustrated background (vector) and the highest resolution possible.
We’ve covered the key differences, advantages, and disadvantages between raster and vector graphics in their respective explanations; now, let’s break them down for comparison purposes. Here are the three most important differences between raster and vector. Though raster images can’t be scaled up, they can be scaled down; which is typically the case for web images, often saved in smaller sizes and at resolutions of either 72ppi or 96ppi. It’s nevertheless, close to impossible to get a real-life graphic representation in a vector-based image. This is because you will need to create a new shape every time you need to make a slight color or shade change.
Raster applications
However, they render a lot like vector data; each “cell” in the grid is an individual feature which acts more like a polygon. They can be used for both vector-based analysis (like running intersections and spatial joins) and raster-based analysis (like slope or hotspot analysis). Another handy design resource is Shutterstock Create, a free raster-based image editor that lets users create and edit high-quality images on any device. Converting a raster image to vector formats can be done, but in specific contexts. For example, converting a raster image to vector is best reserved for simplistic designs rather than photographs and portraits. Instead, vector graphics are comprised of vertices and paths.
It’s a common question asked by newbie designers, webmasters, marketers, and others who create and print artwork. It’s time to clarify the difference between raster and vector images. Native vector-based files cannot be edited with any editor you come across. They require a vector-based program or a high-quality video converter like Movavi. Thus, when it comes to compatibility, raster images are a more suitable option as they can be easily shared and edited across many programs.
Every pixel in a raster dataset is identical in size and shape, and the amount of land each pixel represents is known as the spatial resolution. For example, the map below visualises flood risk in Cardiff, Wales. Flood risk can be seen as a “continuous” spatial phenomenon – i.e. two contiguous cells are likely to experience very similar flood risk – making raster an ideal format for this data. Learn more about how this map was created and CARTO’s support for raster data in BigQuery here.
