Can you vector an image in photoshop

One of the best tricks is its ability to vectorize raster images. This is a very useful trick every artist and designer should learn to use. For example, if you have a low-resolution logo or an image that you want to scale without making it blurry, you can vectorize the image in Photoshop to resize it freely. Download thousands of stunning Photoshop actions and add-ons with an Envato Elements membership. Explore Photoshop Actions.

The main difference between vector and raster formats is that vector images consist of paths, making them easier to scale and edit. While raster images consist of pixels. When you resize or scale a raster image, it will affect the quality of the image and will make it appear blurry or pixelated. With vector images, you can scale them without affecting the quality.

Mott has extensive experience writing advertising copy for everything from kitchen appliances and financial services to education and tourism. By Elizabeth Mott. Shape layers consist of a fill with a vector mask that defines the perimeter of the shape. If you select the Pen tool and click on the "Shape Layers" button in the Options bar, the resulting vector drawing forms the mask for a shape. When you convert a selection to a path, any partially transparent edges become hard-edged transitions.

You can transform a path the same way you would transform a fully or partially selected image layer. You CAN export the paths you create to an Illustrator file, but the basic view is Photoshop was created for raster images and Illustrator was created for vector images.

CorelDraw does both in one program, but the trade off is it does neither as good as Adobe, imo. I think this thread needs a summary, otherwise readers may leave still confused. Most readers will not care if the results are "true eps" or "true vector files", they just want to get something done.

However, they should be aware of the limits and constraints on certain techniques. Here are the key concepts given in the answers:. Photoshop is a pixel raster based image processing tool that has some vector capabilities.

It was originally designed to manipulate and save pixel based images for example, digital photographs , but it has matured into a much more flexible tool. Illustrator is a vector based image processing tool that has some rasterization capabilities. Vector based images do not store pixel information, it stores the image as data that will be interpreted by a vector-based image drawing program.

Both types of image files require a computer program to prepare the file data for display or print, but ultimately the printer or computer requires the image to be in pixel format. As a result, vector based files require more processing.

The main trade-off between vector format and pixel format is that vector formats can be scaled to look good in a wide range of resolutions. Pixel formats suffer when displayed in resolutions other than the resolution they were created in. Pixel formats capture small details and subtle changes in the image much better than vector formats.

As a result, pixel formats are more appropriate for photographs or realistic paintings and vector formats are more appropriate for logo's and simple web and mobile based art. Because the two formats have complementary strengths, it makes sense to use both.

In these cases, you can choose to create and manipulate your images using both Photoshop and Illustrator or CorelDraw--which does both , or you can use the vector tools in Photoshop or the rasterization tools in Illustrator. The best approach is dictated on a case by case basis. The obvious guideline is to select the primary tool based on the output format needed. If you want to use vector tools on a pixel based image in Photoshop, it can be done using the Pen tool or using Photoshop Generate.

You can then gain the advantages of developing with vector art either in Photoshop or by exporting the vector art into Illustrator. After using Illustrator, you can then bring the art back into Photoshop if you intend to ultimately save in a pixel based format.

You will need Photoshop CC Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. How to create vector graphics In Photoshop? Ask Question. Asked 8 years, 6 months ago. Active 8 months ago. Viewed k times. Improve this question.

Scott k 20 20 gold badges silver badges bronze badges. Vector images solve this issue of resizing images. Vector images are path-based — they are composed of mathematical equations so the image itself is easily scalable.

Because of this, vector images are considered resolution independent. Vector images have a specific artificiality to them because they are completely computer-generated. However one can individually resize and retool specific shapes and components of vector images without destroying the image itself. This makes vector images very useful for graphic designers.

How to Convert Images to Vectors Due to these factors, often designers will choose to vectorize an image, or convert it from a bitmap.

PNG to a vector-based image. The opposite process, turning an image into a bitmap, is called rasterizing. The two most common programs used to convert bitmap images into vector images are Photoshop and Illustrator.

Follow these steps to convert bitmap images in Photoshop into vector images.