If you’re starting out as a designer, you may have heard the terms raster and vector. These are two different types of image files, and knowing when to use each one can make your design work smoother and more professional. Whether you’re working on icons, logos, or print materials, choosing the right format is key.
For example, if you have a raster image you want to convert into something clean and scalable, a tool like a vectorizer can help you turn it into a vector format in seconds. This kind of feature is available directly on Creative Fabrica, making it easier to create sharp, editable designs without redrawing everything by hand. Let’s take a look at how raster and vector files are different—and why that matters when designing icons and other digital artwork.
What Are Raster Images?
Raster images are made up of tiny squares called pixels. Each pixel has a color, and when you put thousands or millions of them together, they form a full image. You’ve seen this in digital photos—zoom in close, and you’ll notice the image becomes blurry or blocky. That’s because you’re seeing the individual pixels.
Popular raster formats include PNG, JPG (or JPEG), GIF, and BMP. These are best used for things like photographs, detailed illustrations, and any images with gradients or soft color changes.
But there’s a catch: raster images don’t resize well. If you try to make them larger, they lose quality and become fuzzy. That’s not ideal if you’re designing a logo or an icon that needs to look sharp at different sizes.
Also, raster files can be quite large, especially if they have high resolution. This can slow down your computer or make it harder to share your work online.
So, while raster is perfect for complex and colorful images, it’s not always the best option when you need crisp lines and flexible sizing.
What Are Vector Images?
Vector images are made using math—lines, points, and curves. Instead of storing thousands of tiny colored dots, a vector file stores information about shapes and how they’re arranged. This means the image can be resized without losing any quality.
Common vector formats include SVG, AI, EPS, and PDF. These are perfect for creating logos, icons, illustrations, and anything that needs to stay clean and sharp no matter the size.
Vector files are also easier to edit. You can change colors, shapes, and even rearrange parts of the design without damaging the image. That’s a big plus when working with clients or making updates.
As icon designer Jooniper Parker explains:
“The reason to pick an SVG file over a PNG/JPEG is that the color(s) of the SVG file can be changed to any color to better coordinate with the papers used on your card.”
This flexibility is exactly why many professionals choose vector for design projects—especially when consistency and branding are important.
Which Format Should You Use for Your Design Work?
Deciding between raster and vector depends on what you’re designing. Each has its strong points, and using the right one will save you time and give better results.
Use raster images when:
- You’re editing or using photographs
- You want soft shading or detailed textures
- You’re designing something with rich color effects or filters
Use vector images when:
- You’re creating logos, icons, or simple illustrations
- You need the image to scale perfectly at any size
- You plan to reuse parts of your design in other projects
Let’s say you’re designing a set of app icons. Using raster formats could work at one size, but as soon as the app updates or shifts platforms, you may need to redo the artwork. With vectors, you can simply resize or export to different file types.
Even if you start with a raster sketch, you can use tools like Creative Fabrica’s vectorizer to convert it into a vector file. This helps you keep the artistic look while gaining the benefits of vector flexibility.
Why Icon Designers Rely on Vector Files
When building an icon set, choosing vector is almost always the best path. That’s because vector icons are:
- Scalable: They look perfect on everything from mobile screens to printed posters.
- Editable: You can quickly tweak colors, lines, and shapes.
- Lightweight: Vector files are often smaller and faster to load.
- Organized: You can store many icons in one file, grouped by layer or category.
Vectors also allow for easy duplication. If you’re designing 50 icons that all share the same style, you can copy parts from one to another, saving hours of work.
Another advantage is compatibility. Most modern design tools support SVG or other vector formats. Clients and developers also prefer these files, especially for use on websites or in mobile apps.
Raster images just can’t keep up in this area. They blur when resized, take up more space, and are harder to edit once finalized.
Wrapping Up: Pick the Format That Works for You
Raster and vector images each have a role in the design world. But when it comes to creating clear, scalable, and professional visuals—especially logos and icons—vector files are the go-to option.
If you’re working with a raster image but want to make it editable or scalable, using a tool like the vectorizer from Creative Fabrica is a smart move. It gives you the best of both worlds: the detail of a photo with the flexibility of a vector.
So, next time you start a project, ask yourself: will this design need to be resized or reused? If the answer is yes, then vector is the better choice.
Remember: pixels may blur, but vectors stay sharp—just like your design skills.