Raster vs Vector

Color

i) Raster graphics can support millions colors, for photo realistic images. ii) Vector graphics are not a good choice for photographs.

Purpose

i) Raster images are generally a better choice for photographs, the web, books, and magazines. ii) Vector images are generally a better choice for logos, illustrations, and large format designs, such a billboards

Portability

i) Raster images have a variety of standard formats that are supported by most programs. ii) Vector image formats are not as widely supported across programs.

File Size

i) Vector files are small as they are represented by mathematical formulas. ii) Raster files can become very large based on image size and resolution.

Editable

i) Vector graphics are easily editable, as they are made up of anchor points, paths, and fills. ii) Raster graphics are more difficult to edit, but support a much broader range of effects. iii) Vector images can easily be converted to raster images but raster images are hard to convert to vector images.

Scalability

i) Vector graphics are resolution independent and do not degrade in quality when scaled (re-sized). ii) Raster graphics are resolution dependent and lose image quality when scaled.