“Great, another nerd post…way to go Derek…” not quite, read on.
Despite the nerdy title, this info may prove to be useful to some of you…I hope.
What The Heck Are “Vector Graphics”
Well, in layman’s terms “vector graphics” use geometric lines and curves to create pictures, graphics and logos. These are different from bitmaps and such which use pixels to create images.
Why Should I Care?
Look at the above picture…specifically look on the right hand side. See what happens when a bitmap is magnified 7x? It gets all blurry or “pixilated” and you cannot read the writing. Check out the vector graphic…even at 7x magnification it remains crisp and readable.
If you are ever in need of a logo (for say, a business card or wedding invite) you need to go with a vector graphic. When the logo is resized and printed, it remains crisp. That means the same logo can be used for a business card or a billboard with no loss in quality.
“So, I am confused now…?”
Don’t be, let me break it down…
If you are editing a picture or doing basic web graphics…a regular photo editing program (Photoshop Elements, GIMP, Paint.Net) is fine.
If you are going to be printing or some sort of 3d, scalable modeling…vector graphics are your best bet.
Are Vector Graphics More Expensive?
No, there is actually an excellent, 100% free program for creating vector graphics. It’s called “InkScape”. I just downloaded the program and it is quite nifty. At the moment I have no need for vector graphics since I don’t work with print media, but it is nice to know if the need should arise, I have the necessary tool.
If you are semi-professional or professional and need a higher end program, check out Adobe Illustrator.
To Recap…
Logos, especially for something you plan on printing (again, like a business card, poster, invitation, or billboard)…use vector graphics.
Web graphics, basic picture editing, etc… no need for vector graphics.
In Conclusion
Really the keyword here is print. If you are dealing with something you will need to print, you should use vector graphics. They hold up better, print up crisper, and can be resized without any loss in quality.
Until next time…
