Vector files.

What is a vector file?

Let’s take a step back before actually defining the vector file. When you work on any digital project, you’ll encounter two distinct types of image files — raster and vector. They’re formed in different ways and are better suited to some projects than others.

Raster files are composed of a fixed number of square pixels. This means raster files can become distorted if you resize them beyond the amount of space the pixels were meant to fill.

Vector images don’t use pixels. They’re created with mathematical equations, lines, and curves — using points fixed on a grid — which means images can be made infinitely larger (or smaller) without losing resolution. Basically, vectors don’t lose quality when resized.

At the same time, don’t confuse either raster or vector formats with RAW files, which are unaltered, uncompressed images made up of direct data taken from a camera’s sensors. All three offer their own specific advantages, disadvantages and ultimately, use cases.

Learn more about raster files

Find out how raw files work

What are vector files used for?

The vector format is handy when you need high-quality graphics that can easily resize to different scales. Since they’re created using mathematical formulas, vector files won’t become fuzzy or distorted — no matter how large or small you make them.

So, what is vector typically used for? Digital illustrations and company logos frequently take this form if the graphic needs to be sized up or down for a variety of promotional materials. From bite-sized business cards to T-shirts and posters, a logo saved in vector format won’t lose its resolution.

The most common types of vector file are AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS (Encapsulated PostScript), PDF (Portable Document Format), and SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics).

Advantages and disadvantages of vector files.

There are both pros and cons to using vector images over the raster format.

Advantages of vector images.

Some of the major benefits of vector files include:

• Infinite resolution.
  There’s virtually no limit on how big you can make a vector image without losing its resolution. In contrast, raster files only maintain their resolution when fitted to a specific size. The bigger you stretch them, the more the quality can decline.
  
  
• Lighter file sizes.
  By avoiding blocks of pixels, vector files tend to be more lightweight than raster images such as photos, which can feature lots of camera data.
  
  
• Plenty of design features.
  You can add shapes, text, different colors, and filters to create unique illustrations and designs — plus, you can easily go back and edit over and over again.

Disadvantages of vector images.

These are some of the disadvantages of using vector files:

• Less useful for complex photos.
  Highly detailed digital photos may be better suited to the raster format, where their individual pixels can be edited. Vector files tend to be more suitable for graphics rather than photographs.
  
  
• Compatibility issues.
  You’ll need a vector-based design program like Adobe Illustrator to open and work on vector files. Editing vectors in raster-based software can prove difficult.
  
  
• Conversion difficulties.
  It’s generally much harder to convert a raster image to a vector file than the other way around because it requires more computing power.

Vector files: frequently asked questions.

What types of images can vector files handle?

While raster images like JPEG files can handle high-quality photographs, the vector format is better for graphic design, logos, and illustrations. Vector images are built through mathematical equations using points, lines, and curves — making them ideal for pristine pieces of digital artwork that can scale up or down for any type of use case.

How can I spot a vector file?

Enlarge an image to a scale of around 200% using your desktop or phone screen. You’ll know it’s a vector image if the resolution stays intact, with clean edges and solid colors. Also, keep an eye out for the main vector file extensions — .AI, .EPS, .PDF, and .SVG.

How can I edit vector files?

Vector images are often saved as AI files to enable quick editing. These files are editable in Adobe Illustrator. Images saved in this format can also be converted to PDF files, allowing them to be edited in Adobe Acrobat and making them easier to print.

What do the main vector file extensions mean?

• As the name suggests, .AI files are editable in Adobe Illustrator. They work well for logos.
   
• The .EPS extension is short for Encapsulated PostScript. This older file type handles two-dimensional graphics and text.
   
• The .PDF extension stands for Portable Document Format and helps make vector images print-ready and sharable.
   
• The .SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) file type is designed to be used on the web.

Is it better to create logos as vector or raster images?

While you can technically create a logo in either a raster or vector format, many people prefer to use vectors. The vector file format means that you can use your logo at any size on a range of promotional materials, from business cards to websites to billboards. A raster file will become blurry and pixelated when scaled beyond its intended size.