What is the vector editor for?

To process images and create drawings on the computer use raster and vector editors, which differ in the way of encoding (format) and presentation of graphic information.

Raster graphic editors

Editors using a pixel representation of a picture are therefore called raster (bitmap, bit) images, and they are intended for processing digital photographs or scanned images.

Bitmap images are essentially a matrix, or grid, usually rectangular color dots (pixels) on screens and monitors of display devices or on paper. The main characteristics of such image images are the pixel dimensions, color depth (image bit depth), color model / space (CMYK, RGB, YCbCr, XYZ, etc.) and resolution (the number of image points per unit of area or length).

Classic examples of the raster editor, of course, is the unrivaled (yet) Photoshop program and the "aksakal" from Microsoft - the Paint editor.

Vector Graphic Editors

To create complex drawings with exact, complex and precise boundaries, use is mainly made of a vector editor, one of the main tools of which are the Bezier curves, which allow you to draw curves (broken, straight and smooth) along segments with the exact placement of nodal points and control over the shape Each segment.

The Bezier curve can be imagined as a result of the progressive refinement of the shape of the polygon aligned by the serial connection of the control points defining the form. The curve, going from the initial point of the polygon to its end point, is attracted, like a magnet, to intermediate, defining points, through which it does not pass.

Thanks to special properties, ease of assignment and the ability to manipulate, Bezier curves are widely used to model smooth lines in computer graphics.

In the arsenal of tools that each editor of vector graphics possesses, there must be "Fill", "Text", "Pencil" and a basic set of geometric shapes (so-called primitives) that form the basis of most graphic designs.

Paint, as in raster editors, stains the bounded areas with the specified color (or gradient).

The text created by the corresponding tool is then converted into curves that ensure the independence of the created image from the fonts that are (or are not present) on the computer used for viewing.

A pencil allows you to manually create a line using a large number of node points, which are then retracted using a special function that simplifies the curve.

Strengths and weaknesses of vector graphics

The images that allow you to create a vector editor have a number of significant advantages over raster images, the main of which are the following:

• The increase or decrease of vector patterns does not affect the clarity of borders and contours;
• Files of vector images weigh less, all other things being equal;
• Vector images, not complicated by raster objects, use a smaller amount of computer memory than similar raster images;
• Vector images are scaled and transformed without loss of quality, because they are built by means of mathematical descriptions of objects, lines and circles;
• Any vector editor allows you to adjust individual components of the drawing without affecting other elements of the image, so the drawing objects can overlap without interfering with each other;
• In some cases, and under certain conditions, the bitmap can be converted to a vector image.

As for the disadvantages of vector representation of graphic information, the main one is related to the "directness" of the main components of vector drawings, and nature, as is known, avoids straight lines. Therefore, the vector editor "refuses to take orders" to create picturesque, realistic paintings.

Advantages and disadvantages of raster images

The main advantages of raster editors are the simplicity and the ability to create photorealistic images, because, thanks to the matrix principle of constructing a picture, each pixel can be given any of a million color shades.

The main drawbacks of raster graphics are the limited possibilities of scaling and transformation without loss of quality, as well as the relatively large weight of files with their excessive dependence on image quality.

Review and comparison of vector editors

Today, designers, artists and ordinary users can not complain about the lack of software resources that allow them to realize their creative delights and plans. This applies to vector editors, the main criteria for which merit for some is functionality, and for others - accessibility (paid / free).

Among the free programs, Dia, OpenOffice.org Draw, sK1 (Skencil fork), Inkscape, Xara Xtreme for Linux, Skencil (formerly Sketch), Sodipodi, Expression Design, Pivot Stickfigure Animator and Alchemy are the most popular programs.

Of these, only on Linux is the vector image editor sK1 (fork Skencil), on Linux and OS X, Xara Xtreme and Skencil programs work, for Windows the editors of Expression Design and Pivot Stickfigure Animator are calculated, and all the others are cross-platform.

The most popular and functionally "cool" programs, of course, are paid. This list includes editors Adobe Flash, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe FreeHand (Windows, OS X), as well as CorelDRAW and Xara Designer PRO (Windows).

Who is the dearest in the world?

If the vector editors asked the mirror about "who is the nicest in the world", it is possible that by answering: "you are beautiful, there is no arguing", the mirror would add: "but the vector editor Coreldraw is all the nicer ...". In any case, a good half of users, including professionals, would agree with this.

Coreldraw editor is included in the graphic package, which from the 10th version is called Coreldraw Graphics Suite. In addition to Coreldraw, Corel Photo-Paint (raster), Corel Trace, Corel RAE E and Corel Cupture are also included in this package. You can transfer the image from the computer screen directly to a file or to the Windows clipboard .

A notable glory Coreldraw editor owes not only to his amazing functionality, but also a huge library of ready-made images, as well as a powerful training system and tips built into the program. In addition, the editor has tools that have no analogues with "colleagues."