The mathematical formula simply adjusts to the new scale. These math formulas create points and lines, resulting in an image that you can stretch and shrink without any sort of quality loss. These images are constructed with math formulas rather than pixels. On the contrary, vectors are images that do not rely on pixels. That’s why blowing up a small JPEG file, for example, causes pixelation (seeing grainy pixels visibly) to occur. In raster images, there are a fixed number of pixels, which means that you can’t change the size of the image without compromising the quality. Raster images have pixels in them (you can see the colored squares when you zoom in tight and “pixel peep,” as photographers lovingly call it). Nearly all of the photographs you see online are rasters. Raster formats are those that photographers tend to use every day, the very familiar JPEG, PNG, GIF, and more. All it takes is a few basic steps, and you’ll be able to convert your rasterized graphics to vectors in no time. Luckily, you can also vectorize images, such as a logo converted into a PNG or JPEG file. With the ability to resize without quality loss, it’s clear how vectors fit into your graphic design projects. These can be scaled infinitely without quality loss as long as the text or shape layer isn’t rasterized. Text layers and shape layers are considered vector graphics as they are made up of paths rather than pixels. Although commonly associated with programs such as Adobe Illustrator, it is possible to make a vector image in Photoshop too.Īlthough most layers in Photoshop are raster graphics, there are a few exceptions. Vector images are very useful when working with any type of graphics, such as watermarks or any graphic design project.

Vectorize images in photoshop