Vector? Are you Sure?

Disclaimer: This is not for Professional Artists out there. This is entirely for Beginners and aspiring artists

Just want to clear something up. I have often notice this especially to those who are new in Graphic design and Vector Graphics
Just want to give you some information regarding the term vector.

Vector or Vector designing is

the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon(s), which are all based upon mathematical equations, to represent images in computer graphics

Meaning when you make a vector design, it should be made from lines, points, curves, etc. and when you scale it up or down, the resolution or quality of the image remains the same.

Now how do you know if what you are doing is vector or not?
Answer: It depends on the software you are using.

Here are the common list of Vector Softwares.
1. Adobe Illustrator
2. Corel Draw
3. Adobe Flash
4. Inkscape

You might be asking yourself. No Photoshop? No Gimp? No Corel Paint?
Answer: Yes
Why? Because those are raster sofwares/programs.

So what is raster?
Raster is basically rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color.

Yes, pixels. Not Points or Lines.

So if you make a vector-like design in photoshop, you don't call it Vector.
Instead of Vector, call it VEXEL (vector/pixel? ring a bell? lol)

The term vexel was created by Seth Woolley

Now that you know what's the difference, let me show you some example of Vector and Vexels.

Take note: When you are doing a Vexel in photoshop or any raster programs, when you scale it up and scale it down, usually, the quality is destroyed or turns out to be pixelated. This is the advantage of Vector over Vexels. You can scale Vectors and not lose quality.

Anyway here is a sample of the difference bet. the two




If you have questions, please Fire away! :P