Recently, we looked at the raster graphics, now turn to the vector. Vector graphics are one of the ways to represent objects and images in computer graphics, based on the use of geometric primitives (points, lines, splines and polygons).
Initially, the human eye perceives an image like a raster image. The picture is projected on the retina, which consists of separate cells that react to light. Further, the eye-brain system recognizes individual objects in the image, geometric shapes that are already easier to process and memorize.
When creating vector graphics displayed on a raster device, software or hardware converters are used. The term "vector graphics" is usually used in a two-dimensional computer graphics environment. There is also a narrow class of devices for displaying only vector graphics (plotters, some types of laser printers).
Primitive vector graphics objects:
- Polygons.
- Bezgony.
- Text.
- Bezier curves.
- Lines.
- Circumference and ellipse.
Advantages of vector graphics:
- The thickness of the lines when increasing or decreasing objects is given a constant value.
- All parameters of objects are stored and can be easily changed.
- The size occupied by the narrative does not depend on the real size of the object, which allows, using the minimum amount of information, to describe as many large objects as possible with a minimum size file.
- You can infinitely increase each graphic primitive.
Disadvantages of vector graphics:
- Not every object can be represented in vector graphics. For greater resemblance to the original, a large number of objects and their high complexity are required.
- It is difficult to translate from raster to vector.
Vector graphics editors:
Free:
- Inkscape.
- Sodipodi.
Commercial :
- CorelDRAW.
- Adobe Illustrator.
- Freehand.
- Xara Xtreme.
