Tutorial 2: Vector Graphics

In this tutorial i will talk to you about vector graphics.

What we see in our everyday lives in our computer is a mix of vector graphics and raster graphics, although raster is much more used.

Raster graphics, or also called bit maps, displays the images with patterns of dots. If you enlarge a raster graphic image you will be able to see squares of different colors, this are called pixels.

In the other side Vector Graphics are displayed using a mathematical formula and are composed of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, shapes and polygons.

The nice thing about vector graphics is that, if you zoom in, there's no distortion in it, you wont get a pixelated image. Every time you zoom in, the mathematical formula fixes the image to be displayed appropriately to a specific screen resolution. That's why vector graphics are more flexible than bit maps, they can be resized all the times you want never losing quality and the file size will stay the same.

The quality of a vector image is only limited by the resolution of the output display.

Here's a video i recorded resizing a typical RASTER graphic image using paint!

Its important to note that almost all output devices are raster based, so even if you have a vector graphic image, this will have to be converted to be showed in your screen, the thing is you wont see the pixelated image when you re size it because the mathematical formula will work in the background.


Moreover the graphic systems we know of such as CADD, work with vector graphics!

Just for you to know, programs that deal which vector graphics are called drawing programs , meanwhile programs that use raster graphics are called painting programs!

Some famous vector graphics file formats are:

-CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile)

-SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic)


Other formats associated with their vendors:

-CDR (CorelDraw)
-AI (Adobe Illustrator)
-ODG (Open Document Graphics)

And Many more...



Thank You for Reading!