Bernskiold Media

 

She Said: The thoughts of Elizabeth Gast (Firgs)

When you live on the Internet or see the world from behind a camera, then most of the time, you have no need of vector graphics so pretty much, you ignore them. But nine times out of ten, there is this little nagging voice in the back of your head that is telling you – I should really learn about that- it might come in handy. Well, this is why I am here today. I am going to teach you all I can about vector graphics and why that nagging voice in the back of your head has a good point.

In the simplest of terms, vector graphics are based on a series of numbers. Mathematical equations if you will. Think of your graphic laying out on a mathematical line starting at zero, then imagine that line stretching to the end of all numbers. Wait, isn’t there no end to numbers? Aren’t they infinite? That’s right! They are! And this is why all vector graphics are known for being resolution independent. With a vector graphic the terms dpi and ppi are no longer needed, And that is what gives a vector graphic the ability to start out small and scale to very large sizes over and over again with no harm done to the work. This is also why vector creation programs (such as Adobe Illustrator) are known as Object-Editing software. Believe it or not, when you are working with vectors you are creating objects, not images. However, because your objects are based on numbers and not light sources, like digital images are, then your color pallet becomes slightly limited and more flat. Something that often frustrates a lot of digital designers who are used to creating millions of gradients, and blends with Photoshop. Light can bend to form new light – objects can not.

So when would you want to use Vector images? The most popular answer to this question used to be: when you are designing to have something printed. A few years ago, I would have sworn to you that if you were ever designing anything to be printed to use a vector program and nothing else – and I am sure there are some that still feel this way. But now, this "print only" answer doesn’t always apply because the printing capabilities of BitMap based programs such as Adobe Photoshop are getting better and better and the printing industry as a whole is catching on to that. The "print only" answer also doesn’t always apply because Adobe Illustrator is becoming more and more digital friendly and we are now seeing lots of vector graphics on the web. So, after all this, the answer to this question is now: use vector graphics when you are developing something for scale or sending to a printing company that demands it. Usually this boils down to business identity print work, logos, promotional posters, and major illustration artwork. When you want clean-cut and clearly defined shapes – vector is the only way to go.

Vector graphics and their editing programs have always been designed for printing. On top of the mathematical aspect, the color aspect comes into play. Paper is sold by weight and brightness. The weight determines the thickness, and the brightness – well, think of it as the amount of visible light that is in your paper. This information is actually vital to your printer, for if you tell it what kind of paper you are working with, then it knows just how much ink to lay down to match the colors on your screen. Object-Editing software, like Adobe Illustrator, is actually developed to work with this ink and paper process. By limiting the use of color and light you are also limiting the use of ink that is being dispensed by your printer and therefor not only are you getting a clean and crisp print, but also a cost effective one at that.

So why are we seeing so many vector graphics on the web? That is easy to answer. They’re fun! With the crisp and often comic style that vectors present they bring about a sense of whimsy and fantasy to the professional world. They are sleek, fresh and pleasing to the eye. But although these designs may look simple in nature, vector art is indeed complicated. Each image is layers upon layers of colored objects, each feature it’s own unique element. Vector art takes precision and it’s a highly regarded skill if you can manage it. So the next time that voice starts to nag at you about vector art, don’t just ignore it. Listen to it and get to know your vectors! They really do come in handy.

To see what He Said, don’t forget to check out http://designbyfirgs.com/