| Raster and vector are used for storing and | | | | can be scaled up or down without any loss in |
| manipulating images and graphics data on a | | | | quality. Vector data is geometrically and |
| computer. All of the major CAD software and | | | | mathematically associated and comes in form |
| GIS (Geographic Information Systems) packages | | | | of lines and points. Points are stored using |
| available today are primarily based on either | | | | the coordinates, such as a two-dimensional |
| of the two- raster or vector graphics. | | | | point is stored as (x, y). |
| | | | |
| A raster image uses a framework of colors | | | | Application areas for vector image formats |
| known as pixels to represent images. A | | | | include: |
| specific location and color value is assigned | | | | |
| to each pixel. When editing objects or | | | | 1. Company Logos |
| shapes, in a bitmap image, you edit pixels. | | | | |
| Because, raster images are resolution | | | | 2. 3D and CAD programs |
| dependent they tend to lose quality when | | | | |
| enlarged. A raster image has pixels | | | | 3. Specialized text effects |
| associated with it for all spatial locations, | | | | |
| it is strictly limited by how big a spatial | | | | 4. GIS systems |
| area it can represent. The total size of a | | | | |
| two-dimensional raster image will increase by | | | | 5. Plumbing design and detailing |
| 4 times, when the spatial resolution is | | | | |
| increased by 2 times as the number of pixels | | | | 6. HVAC |
| are also doubled in both X and Y dimensions. | | | | |
| | | | 7. Electrical Drawings |
| How to overcome the problem of lose quality | | | | |
| when enlarging the image? This is where | | | | Advantages of using a vector image formats |
| raster to vector conversion need comes in! | | | | include: |
| Vector images are generally made of lines and | | | | |
| curves defined by mathematical objects called | | | | 1. Resolution independent |
| vectors. These vector points allow the | | | | |
| computer to connect the dots using straight | | | | 2. No jaggedness when enlarged |
| and curves lines and strokes. The vector file | | | | |
| that is produced has no jaggedness, no loss | | | | 3. Smooth curves |
| in detail and can be printed at any | | | | |
| resolution or any size. This vector images | | | | 4. |