Most of peoples don’t know requirements for printing their stationary or business marketing materials. There are two kinds of data to represent image in computer. One is raster that stores image data according to pixel map. For example, check this image. Every pixel from row to column contains specific color values. Pixels All together make whole image, but it some draw back. You can’t zoom such image. It will blur the appearance, because an image doesn’t have enough data to display. You can use high resolution image that can store 300, 600 or even 1200 pixels per inch. But it is worth large amount of memory.
Another kind of data is vector. In this type image is represented using line, curve, points, shapes and other mathematical equation. Only multiplication to original data can enlarge such image to virtually any size. Any business logo requires to be printed on small pen or large banner. Vector graphics allows such flexibility and quality in printing. Vector data are also used in 3D representation of drawing.
I have placed data for both files.
There are also limitations in vector format. You may not get all 3d, gradients, light, bevel and other effects in all vector graphics. Sometimes it may be very costly to create graphics in vector format. Vector software are little harder and requires more skill to work with them. Some of the popular vector softwares are Abode Illustrator, Corel Draw, Inkscape, adobe flash, Adobe FreeHand, Drawit(for mac) and lots of free and commercial softwares. Popular vector formats are Ai, CDR, EPS, SVG, PDF, VML and WMF. Every font files are also vector, because it has to create text of any size.
Type of Vector graphics
One Color Black
Screen printing requires creating B/W print to create silkscreen. This type is generally used for one color screen printing.
Two or more color
Some graphics and logo have more than one color. It is better to use offset (CMYK) printing if your logo have more than 4 colors. Such graphics may have separated colors to ease printing application.
Full Colors (CMYK or RGB)
Full colors printing widely use CMYK data for printing. This format can have shadow, gradient, and mixing of lots of colors.
Line drawing
Line drawings are generally used in laser cutting or engraving. Lines of different colors can define various depth of engraving or cutting.
Mixed drawing
Each vector file can also contain raster image in it. Photograph can’t be converted in vector, so it may be placed as raster data. i.e A brochure have photos , texts and logo. Logo and texts are in vector format but photos are in raster format.
3D drawing
Lots of cad software use vector format to store 3D drawing. It may be rendered before printing.
