Digital graphic files will generally fall into one of two categoriesβvector or raster. Vector graphics, such as logo files, use intricate mathematical paths made up of points and lines to create an image. Raster graphics, such as digital photographs, are created using a grid of tiny pixels.Β
Vectors
Vector files, made up of points and lines to create paths, can be scaled up and down infinitely without losing quality. This makes vector files the best format for graphic assets such as fonts, technical illustrations, icons and company logos, as the same file can be used for designs ranging from a mobile app to a large billboard without sacrificing quality or increasing file size.
Rasters
Raster images are made up of many tiny squares called pixels and are often referred to as ‘bitmap’ images. They are great for use in intricate images such as photos. When zoomed in closely, the individual pixels can be observed. The resolution of a raster file is referred to as DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (points per inch) and is the main determining factor for increasing file size.
Below are examples of both. Move the slider to see the difference.