Understanding Vector Images: The Complete Guide

Vector images are a powerful tool in graphic design, offering flexibility, scalability, and multiple uses. This guide will walk you through the basics of vector images, including how they work, and provide step-by-step tutorials on vectorizing images using both online tools and Adobe Photoshop.

What Are Vector Images?

Vector images are composed of mathematical equations that define shapes and lines. Unlike raster images, which consist of a grid of pixels, vector images can be scaled infinitely without losing quality. This makes them ideal for logos, icons, and other design elements that need to be resized for various applications.

How Do Vector Images Work?

Vector images work based on the principle of using scalable geometrical shapes and curves defined by mathematical equations. These shapes are stored as objects that can be manipulated without decreasing image quality.

Vectorizing Images: Online Methods

For those without extensive graphic design experience, using an online vectorization tool can be a straightforward option.

Choose This Method if You Don’t Have Much Graphic Design Experience: Websites like Online Image Vectorizer, Convert JPG PNG images to SVG EPS AI vectors, or Online image vectorizer offer free vectorization services. Prepare the Image: Save your PNG, BMP, JPEG, or GIF file to your computer desktop. Navigate to Popular Vectorization Websites: Search for vectorization websites by typing online vectorization into the search bar. Select and Upload Your Image: Click the button that says Upload to upload your file. Save File Format: Choose the new file format you want to use. The most versatile option is to use a PDF, but you can also save it as an EPS or AI file for Adobe programs. Wait for the Program to Trace the Image: This process may take a few moments or minutes based on the complexity of the file. Adjust the Results: Change the colors, detail level, and other parts of the image using the suggested settings. Try a few different programs to achieve the desired result. Save the Image: Save the vectorized image to your Downloads folder or desktop. You can use this image as a vector image.

Vectorizing Images: Using Adobe Photoshop

Method 1: Vectorizing a Regular Image

Prepare the Image: Find a PNG, BMP, JPEG, or GIF image you want to vectorize. Open Adobe Illustrator: Create a new document and save it in AI format. Place the Image: Import the image and place it on top of the document. Tracing Options: Click on the Object menu and select Live Trace. Set the threshold, add blur, and choose path fitting and minimum area parameters to control the tracing process. Unlink Elements: Ungroup elements that were placed together and should be separated. Smooth Tool: Use the Smooth tool to reduce the number of anchor points and refine the vector image. Save the Image: Save your AI or EPS file.

Method 2: Vectorizing a Sketch

Collect Sketch: Find a sketch that you want to vectorize, often for enlarging it or when the image is too low-resolution to use in its current form. Prepare the Image: Scan the image and increase its contrast for better tracing. Create a New Illustrator File: Select an initial size and add a new layer. Tracing Sketch: Draw the outline of the image using the Pen tool, ensuring to use black outlines and white backgrounds. Complete the Outline: Click points and adjust Bezier curves to accurately trace the image. Finalize the Image: Separate each section and fill in the colors. Save the File: Save the vectorized file as AI or EPS.

By mastering these techniques, you can effectively convert raster images into scalable vector graphics for a wide range of design projects.