Vector Graphics vs. Bitmaps: What’s the Diff Bro?

All image files can be categorized into two kinds: Pixel / Bitmap-based and Vector-based files. The two differ in the way computers analyze their content.

Pixel-based graphics are commonly known as bitmap graphics or raster images. To understand pixel-based graphics, you have to understand the word pixel and its origin. The word pixel is a combination of two words, “pix” and “el”. The first word, “pix,” came from the word picture, and the other word, “el,” came from the word element. The pixel is the smallest element of a picture or the tiny dots of colours (red, green or blue). Bitmap or pixel-based images are made by combining these tiny dots on a lattice. The picture on a bitmap graphic is a blend of pixels.

Pixel-based graphics have a larger file size than the files of other formats because in pixel-based graphics, all the pixels hold their information and have their separate attributes, which, on blending, make a complete picture. This process of image development increases its size and makes the file larger.

Vector-based graphics have a wide scope in line art. Unlike pixel-based graphics, vector-based graphics use mathematical functions to develop images. Vector-based images are somewhat similar to geometric diagrams and use points and lines. Individual objects have individual attributes and characteristics, unlike pixel-based images, in which each pixel has separate attributes and properties associated with it.

The image quality in vector-based graphics does not depend on the dpi of the output device. This type of graphic design artwork is suitable for logo designs because the resulting image is clear and crisp. Vector-based graphics do not work well when there is a need for soft-toned graphics in a picture. A picture requiring many tonal changes is difficult to achieve in vector art.

Vector-based graphics are easily scalable to any size. A vector-based image is made up of lines and mathematical statements, which makes it easy to scale images up and down without losing quality. The vector-based images are smaller than bitmap images because the file contains only the information related to objects rather than the information of each pixel.