{"id":27695,"date":"2021-04-01T18:35:51","date_gmt":"2021-04-01T18:35:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/suprefreshprod.wpengine.com\/\/?page_id=27695"},"modified":"2025-09-17T15:42:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T20:42:39","slug":"vector-graphics-vs-raster-images","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images","title":{"rendered":"Vector Graphics vs. Raster Images"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are Vector Graphics vs. Raster Images?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When setting up your <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/file-preparation\/print-ready-files\">print-ready files<\/a>, you may wonder what type of images or graphics you should include for your artwork. Do you go with vector graphics (elements formed by smooth points and lines) or include raster images (images formed by a series of pixels and dots)? From <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/offering\/door-hanger\">door hangers<\/a> for marketing or custom <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/offering\/brochure-printing\">brochures<\/a> for upcoming trade shows, the right artwork files can make or break your design. This article discusses the differences between the two and provides use cases for both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a look at the pros and cons of vector and raster graphics before <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/ordering-shipping\/how-to-order-at-smartpress\">placing an order<\/a> for your online printing projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/smartpress_blue_s.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=966&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1024&s=e5c50c930329099e3799314758aab263\" alt=\"A vector image of the letter S in blue color.\" class=\"wp-image-29831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/smartpress_blue_s.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;fit=crop&amp;h=966&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=1024&amp;s=e5c50c930329099e3799314758aab263 1024w, https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/smartpress_blue_s.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;fit=crop&amp;h=283&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=300&amp;s=b3a2f09767f8c65c80500d1567cd2841 300w, https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/smartpress_blue_s.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;fit=crop&amp;h=724&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=768&amp;s=ba9f87f5ed5b6b31b57cde7610360b00 768w, https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/smartpress_blue_s.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=1200&amp;s=af95bc70b5aef244e2ea2fee90cd51f4 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>&nbsp;Vector<\/strong> (sharp lines)&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/raster-zoomed-in.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&ixlib=php-3.3.0&max-h=946&max-w=943&s=e2bb2e388e63a9d15edf68544203d823\" alt=\"A raster image of the letter S in blue color.\" class=\"wp-image-27751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/raster-zoomed-in.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=943&amp;s=20848fb3b8ec5803484702a3e5b788ce 943w, https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/raster-zoomed-in.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;fit=crop&amp;h=300&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=300&amp;s=7fc8859fb7bd0c05574f4a29227ca470 300w, https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/raster-zoomed-in.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;fit=crop&amp;h=150&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=150&amp;s=6cc082a349c03ba834c22c97a247fdf3 150w, https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/raster-zoomed-in.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;fit=crop&amp;h=770&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=768&amp;s=b6b84223650ecaeef6e2f931d9b5aeaa 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 943px) 100vw, 943px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Raster&nbsp;<\/strong>(pixelated lines)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"waypoint t-sink s-sink\" id=\"vector-graphics\">\n    \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are Vector Graphics? When Should They Be Used in Design?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vector images are graphic elements made up of points and lines that remain smooth no matter how large or small the image is scaled. Vectors are primarily used for illustrative elements, iconography and logo design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantages of Using Vector Graphics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vector images are highly scalable since their size is not dependent upon resolution and inherently tends to be smaller.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vector images are incredibly easy to edit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Limitations to Consider With Vector Graphics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Although vector images are incredibly scalable, it\u2019s best to be very aware of any nuances and mistakes in the design.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What may have been missed at a smaller scale will be very apparent when blown up to a larger scale.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"waypoint t-sink s-sink\" id=\"best-practices-for-vector-graphics\">\n    \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best Practices When Working With Vector Graphics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow these guidelines when creating, editing and saving your vector images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vector graphics are best created in <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/file-preparation\/editing-files-with-photoshop-indesign-more\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adobe Illustrator<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To retain the ability to edit within your vector file, be sure to save it as an AI or EPS file when working in Illustrator.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Since vector images are highly scalable, there are no real limitations when it comes to size.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A vector logo can be small enough to fit on a button or scaled to fit a billboard without losing any quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Convert .JPG Files to Vector Images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open your .JPG in Illustrator (you&#8217;ll notice your upper toolbar change).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select Image trace &gt; Expand to create a vectorized version of the file you currently have.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ungroup the selected artwork to remove the background from your graphic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Smartpress Tip:<\/em><\/strong> The simpler the object being traced, the better the result. However, starting from scratch will always produce the best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vector Graphics Tips &amp; Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Smartpress does not require vector images in your print-ready file, but the scalability of vectors makes them ideal for multi-sized items and can be repurposed for both small and large format printing.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Small format jobs include <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/shop\/business-card-printing\">business cards<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/shop\/custom-booklets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">custom booklets<\/a>, personalized <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/offering\/postcard-printing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">postcards<\/a>, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Large format jobs include <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/shop\/custom-signs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">indoor and outdoor signage<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/offering\/large-poster-printing#c=581&amp;cp=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">large posters<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/shop\/seg-wall-graphics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SEG wall graphics<\/a>, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When creating a new vector graphic, make sure you utilize your layers!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s very easy to create a vector graphic without layers in Illustrator, but the tidier your workspace is, the easier it is to edit later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check your work prior to printing or sending to an online printer &#8211; a small miss will be very noticeable if represented at a larger scale.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"waypoint t-sink s-sink\" id=\"raster-images\">\n    \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are Raster Images? When Should They be Used in Design?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Raster images are a series of <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/image-resolution\">pixels per inch (PPI) or dots per inch (DPI)<\/a> that form an image when compiled. Raster images are used for non-line work art, primarily photographs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefits of Using Raster Images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Since a raster image is comprised of pixels, every pixel can be a different color, making it great for creating complex images.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Limitations to Consider With Raster Images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Since there is a finite number of pixels in a raster image, the scaling of the image can result in loss of quality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High-quality raster images are also larger in file size. The more pixels or dots in one raster image, the higher the quality but the larger the file size.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"waypoint t-sink s-sink\" id=\"best-practices-for-raster-images\">\n    \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best Practices When Working With Raster Images<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow these guidelines when creating, editing and saving your raster images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Raster images are best created in Photoshop (especially if rasterize files are photographs).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Raster images are non-scalable, so if you need to resize your image larger than the original, the result will be a low-quality image with fuzzy, low resolution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When setting up images for print, make sure you\u2019re working at 300 dots per inch (DPI).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Convert .JPG Files to Raster Images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>.JPG files are already raster files but can be optimized when saved out of Photoshop for smaller file sizes and higher quality images.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Raster Images Tips &amp; Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Smartpress does not require raster images in your print-ready file, but since rasters are technically non-scalable, repurposing a smaller raster image for a larger-scale print product would result in a low-quality printed image.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be aware of the end product when choosing the right raster image.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resizing a raster image to a larger size will result in a low-quality image with low resolution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When resizing images in Photoshop, it\u2019s best to convert your photo layer into a smart object to retain the pixel quality of the image.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By doing this, Photoshop remembers and retains the original size and pixel quality of the image without any data loss.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"waypoint t-sink s-sink\" id=\"key-takeaways\">\n    \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways: Vector Graphics vs. Raster Images<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Vector Graphics<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Raster Images<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Best For<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Logos, icons, scalable designs<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Photographs, complex color images<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Scalability<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Infinite, no quality loss<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Limited, quality degrades with scale<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>File Size<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Generally smaller<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Larger at high quality<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Software Platform<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Adobe Illustrator<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Adobe Photoshop<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n<p>If you have questions about setting up your file, you can learn more in our <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/file-preparation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">File Preparation<\/a> section. You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact customer service<\/a> and chat with one of our print experts about your project or any of our online printing services.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are Vector Graphics vs. Raster Images? When setting up your print-ready files, you may wonder what type of images or graphics you should include for your artwork. Do you go with vector graphics (elements formed by smooth points and lines) or include raster images (images formed by a series of pixels and dots)? From [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":27750,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[539],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-printing-basics"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Vector Graphics vs. Raster Images | Support<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Vector graphics are primarily used for illustrative elements, iconography and logo design. Raster images are used for non-line work art, like photography.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Vector Graphics vs. Raster Images | Support\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Vector graphics are primarily used for illustrative elements, iconography and logo design. Raster images are used for non-line work art, like photography.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Support\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/smartpressprinting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-04-01T18:35:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-17T20:42:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vector-zoomed-in.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1126\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1062\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Pamela Hoffmann\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@smartpress\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@smartpress\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Pamela Hoffmann\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Pamela Hoffmann\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/#\/schema\/person\/ede3e49ecd07c2f3510f7f01071521e9\"},\"headline\":\"Vector Graphics vs. Raster Images\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-04-01T18:35:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-17T20:42:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images\"},\"wordCount\":963,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vector-zoomed-in.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&ixlib=php-3.3.0&s=c52080c4c9baf66fb2e9daafac138d6c\",\"articleSection\":[\"Printing Basics\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images\",\"name\":\"Vector Graphics vs. Raster Images | Support\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/smartpress.com\/support\/printing-basics\/vector-graphics-vs-raster-images#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/smartpresssupport.imgix.net\/support\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vector-zoomed-in.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&ixlib=php-3.3.0&s=c52080c4c9baf66fb2e9daafac138d6c\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-04-01T18:35:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-17T20:42:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"Vector graphics are primarily used for illustrative elements, iconography and logo design. 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