What is a vector file

Contents

1 What is a vector file?
2 Advantage and Disadvantage of Vector file
- 2.1 Advantage
- 2.2 Disadvantage
3 What extension formats do vector files have?
- 3.1 Some popular extensions of vector files

What is a vector file?

A Vector file is an image file use Mathematical formulas to represents coordinates in the two-dimensional plane of the image. To using coordinates to express image is obey Mathematical formulas so that it can resize infinite this is the reason why image is not blurr or break.

“The biggest difference between vector file types is in how data is stored. All vectors involve some text-based storage with mathematical equations to display the graphics properties. These equations correlate to points on a cartesian plane or mathematical coordinate system. As values in the equations are changed, mathematical rules force all values to remain in exact proportion. That’s what gives vector graphics superior scalability – By CoreIDraw

Advantage and Disadvantage of Vector file

Advantage

Vector files aren’t depend on resolution so the biggest advantage of vector file is keep image quality high even when resized, cropped, or edited. This is important for prints because it ensures after prints retain good sharpness.

Nowadays, most of professional projects are almost designed by vector files. Those projects often have to be edited through many steps, and the use of vector graphics will avoid the image losing quality. Besides, fronts are also can be used vector files. This is especially useful for designed logos, creating slogans or making advertisements for businesses.

“There are several types of vector files, each with their own benefits and compatibilities. It will be your job as a vector designer to choose the right one for a given task based on client requirements or desired output” – By CoreIDraw

Disadvantage

Besides the advantages mentioned above, vector image have limited color. In this part, it is not comparable to bitmaps.

Another disadvantage of vector image is created by software. When you take or scan image, it is save as a bitmap image. If you want to scan image, you must convert vector files to bitmap files. This is called Rasterizing.

In addition to vector image is not background does not handle many cartoon-like textures and the realism is not high.

What extension formats do vector files have?

We are maybe familiar with the extended tail form of Raster graphics such as PNG, JPEG, JPG or RAW, vector files extensions are less popular. As a mentioned above, vector files are created and processed by specialized software that means it’s format usually the format of program process that created it.