What is vector or raster artwork?

Vector Based Images

Are made up of various “objects,” a term which essentially means lines and shapes. These objects are defined mathematically by a set of algorithms or formulas, which allow them to be redrawn over and over. This is not to say that using vector images requires any great mathematical skill, as the mathematics are handled almost entirely “behind the scenes,” by whatever software is using the image. Vector based graphics are resolution independent, making them the industry standard for printing. If your artwork is vector it will be scalable to any size and print at optimal definition.

Raster Based Images

A raster graphic or image is made up of pixels. Pixels are small squares of information. In order to understand what a raster graphic is, imagine a large grid that is made up of many squares (pixels) of all the same size. If you put a different colour in each square and then, you back away from the grid, the individual squares blend together to make up a picture. This is a raster graphic or bitmap graphic. Raster graphics are wonderful for rich, full-color images such as photographs. Raster graphics are rendered images on a pixel-by-pixel basis and they are fantastic when handling shading and gradients.

Logos usually need to be separated from the background, resized, or otherwise manipulated. Vector images offer the most versatility for these purposes and are preferred for printing on a large majority of Imageact products.