When it comes to printing, high-resolution visuals are crucial. Without that, your printed promotional content may look distorted, blurry, or pixelated. To avoid this issue, you (or your printer) must understand the difference between raster and vector images. The one you choose can greatly impact the overall appearance of your products. Ultimately, the type of image you select should reflect your specific objectives.

At Curry Printing, our professionals have been designing quality products for decades. As experts in the business, our mission is to provide quick, reliable service for our clients without sacrificing quality. No matter what type of marketing materials you want to create, we’re dedicated to helping your business grow. In addition to excellent service, we provide state-of-the-art printing technologies and fantastic products every step of the way. If you want to know more about raster vs. vector images, don’t hesitate to contact our experts.

Raster Images

Raster images are made up of pixels, which are minuscule dots that generate an image via color and tone. When you zoom in on pixelated images, they often appear like tiny blocks on graph paper. An image of this type can only hold a certain number of pixels. This number (also known as “resolution”) determines whether an image is high quality or low quality. The more pixels there are, the higher quality the image is. Unfortunately, when you scale a raster image, it becomes more pixelated. These images also demand a larger file size and take up more space. However, raster files can be accessed, shared and edited easily. 

File formats: PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, PSD

Software: Adobe Photoshop, scanned visuals, digital cameras

When to use raster images: Print materials (flyers, brochures) and photography, anything that requires complex color palettes

Vector Images

Vector images, also referred to as SVG (scalable vector graphics) are made of anchored dots affixed to lines. There is no pixilation involved with vector images, so there are no limits on scale due to resolution. More than anything, a vector image is known for its clarity and quality. Additionally, designers love them because the files are compact and easy to store digitally. However, opening and editing the files often requires special software.

File formats: SVG, AI, EPS

Software: Adobe Illustrator

When to use vector images: Logos and fonts, digital illustration, digital printing for business cards, posters, billboards, clothing, patches, anything that requires solid colors

Which Image to Use for Your Printing Needs

Before you decide whether to use raster or vector images, you first need to know what your project requires. Are you designing something that requires solid colors and scalability, like a logo? Are things like file size and storage important to you? If so, vector images may be the better choice. However, if you need to print a photograph with complex colors onto a flyer, raster images might suit you better. Your decision depends on your vision, the products you want to create, and what you want the end result to look like. 

When it comes to your business’s’ promotional materials, it’s also important to choose a company you trust. Partnering with online vendors can result in delays, frustrating errors and missed deadlines. Our expert designers will handle your project with care. We always ensure our clients are satisfied with the outcome. 

Are you ready to design something for your business? Contact us today! If you’re not sure about choosing raster vs. vector images, we can help you decide. Our representatives are more than happy to speak with you and help answer your questions. 

What We Can Print for You at Curry Printing

At Curry Printing, we offer a wide variety of products for our clients. No matter what you require, we can help you create high-quality products. We treat each customer individually, and all our products can be customized to suit your specific needs. 

  • Business cards
  • Brochures
  • Annual reports
  • Booklets
  • Envelopes
  • Postcards
  • Newsletters and Flyers
  • Employment Forms
  • Clothing
  • Notepads
  • and more!

We also offer online ordering to streamline the design process. If you have a file that’s ready to go, send it to us here to get started. Otherwise, our specialists can work with you to design something extraordinary. 

Partner with Curry Printing Today

Curry Printing is here to help businesses like yours grow, and we are proud to offer a full range of customizable products that make great gifts for your employees or clients. We work with businesses in every industry to find compelling solutions to their printing and mailing needs, and we look forward to earning your business. To learn more about our diverse selection of marketing materials, call us today at 410-685-2679.