| Graphic images on your computer come in two | | | | of information on millions of individual |
| different forms, raster images and vector | | | | pixels, tend to use less memory than raster |
| images. Raster images are made by programs | | | | files. |
| such as Photoshop and Corel Photopaint. | | | | |
| Vector images are produced by Adobe | | | | The edge of a circle, rendered as a raster |
| Illustrator, Freehand, and CorelDraw. While | | | | image, may look smooth initially, but |
| the results from these different programs can | | | | eventually as you zoom in you will see a |
| look similar, the ways in which they are made | | | | jagged stairstep edge of the individual |
| are very different. | | | | square pixels that make up the image. A lower |
| | | | resolution image will look jagged or |
| Raster images are made up of millions of | | | | pixellated much sooner than a high resolution |
| individual squares, or pixels, of various | | | | image. A circle's edge in vector form will |
| colors. The more pixels you have, the better | | | | always be smooth no matter how close you zoom |
| the image will look. The number of pixels, or | | | | in since it is recalculated each time you |
| resolution, is usually expressed in dots per | | | | change the view. |
| inch (dpi). Images on the Web are shown at 72 | | | | |
| dpi. A high-resolution image would run 300 | | | | Raster based programs are best at working |
| dpi or higher. Some types of printing can get | | | | with photo-realistic images and make subtle |
| into the 1600 dpi range. Much like a mosaic, | | | | (or bold) changes in color, shadow and |
| a raster image can look smooth from a | | | | texture. Vector based programs excel at easy |
| distance but as you zoom in closer you can | | | | control of edges and tend to produce a more |
| see the individual pixels. | | | | graphic style of art. Regardless of the type |
| | | | of image, higher resolution is always better |
| A vector image is drawn from mathematical | | | | for producing a good result. While your image |
| formulas for lines and curves and is redrawn | | | | may be vector or raster, or even a |
| each time you zoom in for a closer look. The | | | | combination of the two, the Art Staff at will |
| quality of the image stays the same | | | | work hard to translate it into the best |
| regardless of the level of magnification. | | | | textile printing possible. |
| Vector files, since they are formulas instead | | | | |