vector art

Vector art is made up of mathematically defined geometric shapes that are typically generated using drawing or illustration programs such as Adobe Illustrator. Vector art is made up of lines, objects, and fills. Defined shapes are built from mathematical equations that are stored in the file. Vector art implies both magnitude and direction.

Once vector art is created, it is easily modified within the program in which it was created and is not greatly affected when it is scaled (up or down in size). Since vector files are defined mathematically, scaling simply requires modification of the mathematical equation. Vector files do not support photographic images very well and can become a problem when exchanged between different platforms. Vector art is usually saved in EPS or PDF format.

Vector work is ideal for logo design. Although it is a little more difficult to create a vector logo, it is worth using it in different mediums. Since the vector logo can be scaled up or down without losing quality, it allows for a seamless transition between different media.

frame art

Images or raster art are produced by digital image capture devices, such as digital scanners or digital cameras, or by pixel-editing programs, such as Adobe Photoshop. Raster art is made up of a matrix of dots (grid) or a bitmap of digital picture elements (pixels). Pixels are assigned a color and have a rectangular shape. Several tiny pixels in a row create what we perceive as the image. Raster art is typically saved as JPEG, BMP, or TIFF files.

Converting from vector art to raster is simple, but going from raster to vector is much more difficult and often results in loss of data and quality. Raster art doesn’t scale up well, but it can be scaled down without losing quality.

A logo designed in Adobe Photoshop might be ideal for web design or a smaller print, but if you’re serious about branding, the resulting raster art will be of limited use. When printing a sign or banner, the raster logo will be enlarged and severely deteriorated and pixelated. While some cool effects can be done on the logo in Photoshop, the final product will have limited uses.