Vector V. Bitmap (Raster)

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Two types of images appear throughout our lives daily, but we never take the chance to stop and think about the image. Well there are two different types of images, Vector and Bitmap (or Raster) images. To some there are no noticeable difference, but the realty is that there are many. Looking at the example below we can see how the raster image includes defined pixels, while the vector image does not have the same issue.

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DryIcons.com

The two images displayed are vector images. I thought it would be better to display based from realism and another that uses more digital enhancement. Vectors are any scalable shapes—line, objects, and fills—that keeps their proportions and quality when sized up or down. Both images use these objects. For example, the the first image uses heavy amounts of fill, and lines to contain the fill—which are used in the first image to give the basketball player shading. 

Bitmap, or raster, images consists of pixel information, where every pixel is assigned a RGB or CMYK value. This can create smoother and more detailed images for photos and paintings. However, when scaled appear distorted. The first image serves as the perfect of how distorted raster images can become. The second is the normal appearance of a bitmap image at its normal size. Although bitmap images are resolution dependent, they can handle effects easier that vector images can.