Bitmap Images There are two main types of graphics used on computers.
There are Bitmap graphics, which is a type of image that uses pixels to store image information.
A pixel is a tinny square on the screen and many of them are used to make up an image.
As the image is made up of many tiny dots, the image is not easily scalable.
If you try to enlarge it, the quality of the image will decrease.
Vector Graphics The second type is Vector Graphics.
Vector graphics are scalable.
They do not use pixels to store information.
A vector application, uses mathematical information to store what an image looks like.
If you remember maths from high school, you can use co-ordinates to record positions, formulas to record the angles of lines, and shapes etc.
This is a very simplified explanation, however, the point is that vector graphics do not use pixels.
Because of this they are scalable.
You may enlarge them, and the quality of the image will not decrease.
So it makes them ideally suited for any situation where you may need the image in different sizes.
How to make Vector Art To create Vector Art images you will need an application such as Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand, Coral Draw, or the free open-source alternative Inkscape.
Creating an vector image is different to traditional applications in that you can't just use an eraser rub out parts of an image which you want to delete.
Vector images are made up of objects, which have sizing handles to manipulate your images with.
Once you master your application, professional and crisp scalable graphics are easy to create.