Raster Graphics vs. Vector Graphics

So, what is the difference? Vector graphics  are made of points; raster graphics are made of pixels. 

Raster Graphics (Also referred to as bitmap)

Raster graphics are made up of thousands of pixels which determine the color and form of the image.

Photos are raster images. Photoshop is the most common raster editor, enabling you to manipulate the color and other properties of the pixels. But, because raster images are made up of a finite amount of pixels, resizing can be tricky. If you make a raster image larger dimensions in Photoshop, the software has to make up data in order to add the size. This results in loss of quality.

• Raster graphics are often created/edited in “photo” programs, e.g. Adobe Photoshop
• Raster graphics are mapped to a grid
• The size of the image is based on the image’s resolution
• Raster graphics are not easily scalable
• Raster graphics are often used for photorealistic images

Vector Graphics

Vector graphics, such as those created in Adobe Illustrator, are made up of points, each of which has a defined X and Y coordinate. These points join paths to form shapes, and inside these shapes you can add color fills. Because everything is generated based around this, vectors can be resized to any size without any loss of quality.

• Vector-based graphics are often created/edited in “draw” programs, e.g. Adobe Illustrator
• Vector-based graphics have smooth edges
• Vector-based graphics create curves or shapes
• Vector-based graphics are often used for precise illustrations
• Vector-based graphics are easily scalable, due to their use of mathematic formulas