Raster VS Vector Files

Raster and vector are the 2 ways to describe the pixel composition of digital work. It can describe the artwork itself, the format it is saved, and programs used to create and save them.

The difference between them is especially important to know for those working with digital art such as graphic design, web design, and illustration.

Raster

These files are made of a set number of pixels, and will look pixelated when enlarged too much. They also are not capable of holding transparencies.

Examples: photographs, digital paintings, illustrations, or screen shots

Programs: Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, Corel Painter, Sketchbook Pro, Gimp

File types: jpeg, pdf, tiff

A raster file can never be saved to become a vector file.

Vector

These files are capable of enlarging without any pixelation because they are created with mathematical formulas inside certain programs. When using a vector based program, anything you make in it will be a vector; this includes text, shapes (circles, triangles, stars, etc.), and lines. (You can put raster files such as photos or screen shots into these kind of programs and they will hold their raster identity.) Vector files are also known for their capability to hold transparencies; notably for backgrounds of logos.

Examples: logos, icons, web banners, etc.

Programs: Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, CorelDraw

File types: ai, png, eps, svg

Be sure to save vector files with one of these file types, or it will become a raster file. If the artwork includes transparencies and is saved as a raster, it will automatically be filled in with white pixels.