Vector vs. Raster What’s the difference between vector and raster file formats? The real difference between the two formats is how they are used.

Raster artwork (also known as bitmaps) :  are composed of lots of small dots. This lends itself to photographic or artistic effects because color gradations can be made very smooth in a bitmap format. However, bitmap images lose their clarity when they are increased in size because the dots get bigger. Take an image that's 10 pixels wide by 10 pixels high, stretch it to 100 x 100 pixels and it looks like it's made of big squares. Graphic Interchange Format (.GIF) Joint Photographers Expert Group (.JPEG,.JPG) Tagged Image File Format (.TIFF,.TIF) Encapuslated PostScript (.EPS)* File Formats :

Vector artwork (sometimes called line art)  this kind of artwork is made up of lines and filled areas only, which are mathematically drawn and calculated (hence the term vector) by the software you use. They can be stretched in size without losing any clarity or sharpness. Because of their mathematical origins, vector images are readily scalable without distortion.  For vector image editing, use either Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand. Either program will also allow users to import raster images into their vector files. Illustrator (.AI)* Encapuslated PostScript (.EPS)* PostScript (.PS)* Windows Meta File (.WMF) File Formats : * Both Illustrator AI and EPS formats allow users to place raster images within a vector file. The raster image is not converted to vector format; rather it is simply embedded in the vector file, and is rendered in raster format.

Vector/Raster When and Why?  If you are working with mainly solid color objects, manipulated text or many small objects, the clear answer is that a VECTOR program will save you time.  If you are working with complicated drop shadows, or other 3D effects, texture or photographs, RASTER is the correct choice. For photo work, only a raster program makes sense. Vector programs make short work of manipulated text and any solid color work.

TIFF to the rescue  Many times vector programs do not have the power to rasterize images with good results  TIF is a raster program, widely used in print work, that supports 24 bit color without degrading quality. You can expect better results with this format than with uncompressed JPG files.  Export as TIF and then open in a raster program to convert to GIF or JPG. Exported directly to 72 dpi JPG Exported at 300 dpi in TIFF format. Opened in Photoshop to reduce resolution and optimize: 9.63kb

Going the other way - TRACE When you have learned to work well with a vector program, and are comfortable drawing and editing nodes in paths, you can import the raster image and place it on its own layer. 1.Reduce the opacity of the layer to fade the image back (if available), or draw a semitransparent white rectangle over the image. 2.Lock the layer containing the image to be traced. 3.Trace the objects on a new layer. Tracing partially completed. The blue outline shows one area that has been traced – this area is now a vector object. Note: Incorporate the raster image into the vector image if you are not going to need to resize the image.