When it comes to images not all of them are created equal. In this article we'll take a look at what vectors are, their advantages, disadvantages and even history. But first, we need to understand why they're different to raster images. Raster images have pixels and usually come in formats like jpg, png and gif. Vectors, on the other hand, are digital illustrations with points, lines and curves made using mathematical formulas. They can be resized infinitely without any quality loss. That's their main benefit, but there are others. Advantages of vector graphics Vectors are far better than other types of images for a lot of things. For example: · Scalability to any size and detail: the quality of the vector image is limited only by the resolution of the display. You can enlarge it without losing quality. This doesn't happen with raster images: when you enlarge them, they start to look pixelated. That's why vectors are great for logos, you can use them on flyers or billboards and they'll always look good. · Flexibility: vectors are highly manipulable, which can lead to more creative options and customization. · Colors: can be set up to be printed consistently from any commercial printer, helping eliminate printing errors and mistakes. · Vectors can be separated from the background and elements can be pulled apart easily. · Vectors can be created in outlines so the font never loads differently. · The file sizes are smaller. While a 50 x 50 pixels raster file has to save 2500 pixels of information, a vector only needs to know the coordinates of the starting points, width and height. · The image remains editable as long as it remains in a vector. But no file format is perfect. Disadvantages of vector graphics - Vector formats are not well suited for photographic images. - Vector formats aren't as universally inter-operable as bitmaps. Regarding this, there also exists another file type that you might find useful. They're mixed format, which means they have features of both bitmaps and vectors. These file types are .psd and .pdf Here's a simple timeline of how vectors were developed and started to gain popularity: As you can see, there have been developments on the vector graphics area since 1951 (with some events happening even earlier). We've been perfecting the formats for decades now, through different software and file formats. Files Popularity Adobe Illustrator files (.ai) are definitely the preferred ones among the design community. Nevertheless, .eps are also well used and .svg files are gaining popularity fast! Preferred Editors There's lots of companies making software to work with vectors but these are the most loved by users: 1. Adobe Illustrator 2. Corel Draw 3. GIMP 4. Inkscape 6. AffinityDesigner Not all of them are free and they all have slight differences between them, so it's worth trying a few before choosing a favorite. Now that you're an expert, start by getting a huge +2500 collection of vector resources here. Header image designed by...