All You Need to Know About Raster Images and Vector Graphics

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Do you have some documents that you would like to print? Do those documents contain images (such as photos) and graphics (such as maps)? Are you wondering about the best format that you should use when getting those different images/graphics ready for printing? If your answer is yes, read on and learn some important information about raster images and vector graphics. Use this information to help you to prepare very captivating company marketing materials.

Raster Images

These are bitmaps. A bitmap is a collection of tiny squares (called pixels in computer language). Each pixel (square) has a code describing its different characteristics, such as colour. When a collection of pixels is viewed on a computer screen, it forms an image. Raster images are the best format for non-line presentations, such as digital photos. This is because the format can accommodate the subtle gradations within those photos. For instance, this format can accurately capture the slight colour variations created when light strikes an object at an angle.

However, this format has its challenges. For instance, the photo taken can become jagged or rough when it is enlarged. This roughness comes because the tiny squares from which the image was formatted become visible. This shortcoming can be limited by keeping in the mind that raster images need to be displayed at the same resolution as the resolution they were captured. In practical terms, this means that you should use a printer whose resolution is the same (or higher) than the resolution of the device (such as a camera) that captured that image. Resolution refers to the dpi (dots per inch) of the devices used. The higher the dpi, the clearer the image will be. The common formats that you can use to save your images as raster images are JPEG, GIF and PCX file formats. Contact your print services provider for more information on those formats. You will receive very high quality prints if you save the photos to be used in your company literature as raster images. Work with the printing company to determine the size of the images that will bring out the best of those photos without reaching the point when the image becomes blurry as a result of being too large.

Vector Graphics

These are based on a mathematical formula. That formula is best suited for linear parameters such as lines, curves, squares and rectangles. This makes vector graphics the ideal format for saving logos, maps and other created images (such as clip art) that conform to this structured way of creating an image. How is this connected to the company literature that you want to print? Vector files are very good if you want to print on different sizes of paper. The enlargement process will not affect the quality of the images. Common vector file formats include AI, EPS and WMF.

As you can see, you need to work with your provider of copy services so that you create or save images in file formats that will be best suited to each kind of image you have. This will result in high quality prints for your company.

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