Vector vs Image

What Is Vector Art?

Vector art is created using a software programs, such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw. These programs use points, lines, and shapes to create art that is clean, camera ready, and can be scaled infinitely, without any loss of quality.

Scalability is one of the main reasons that Vector art files are so valuable.  The same art file can be used to reproduce your design on something as small as a business card, or something as large as a billboard, without any loss of quality.

In the following graphic, we will show the difference in appearance between Vector art and the other, more common type of computer graphics.

How can you tell if your art is Vector Art?

One way is by the file type. Vector art is usually created in Adobe Illustrator, and is commonly saved with certain file extensions. The four most common Vector file extensions are .ai, .pdf, .eps and .svg. You cannot open a vector file in an image viewer.

However, just because a file is saved in one of these formats, does not mean that it is truly vector art. Sometimes, people open raster files in Adobe Illustrator, and re-save the file in a vector format, without recreating the art using the vector editing tools. Only art originally created in a vector editing program, such as Adobe Illustrator, is truly vector art.

So, how do you really know if your art file is a vector art file? The only way to know for sure is to open the file, and check to make sure that it was created as vector art. If you have a vector editing program, open your art file, and use the selection tool on an area within the art. You might see something like this:

My Art Isn’t Vector! What Now?

If you got your file made by a professional designer they may have made it in a vector file but did not provide you with it. First contact them and see if they have the vector file. Contact your designer, and ask for the vector files. If you work in a large company, contact your company’s marketing department or design department. They will probably have the files that you need.

If you still cannot locate the vector send us the largest file you have, preferably black and white. We will see if we can convert it. One other alternative is, we have someone who can draw it for an additional charge.