Raster Graphics

Raster is the commonly used type of graphics. They comprise of tiny continuous of colored boxes known as dots or pixels. When creating images or graphics for print, Raster graphics are usually measured in dots per inch (dpi), but when the images are meant for use in the web then they are measured in pixel per inch (ppi). These measurements allow the designers to measure the amount of color information contained in a specific image. The most popular file formats for Raster graphics include jpg, png, tiff, gif, psd and bmp. In the creation of Raster graphics, there are lots of tools which can be used, with Adobe Photoshop being the preferred one by the majority.

Pros and cons of Raster images

One of the greatest advantages of Raster graphics is that they offer greater color detail because they are pixel based. With this, Raster images have a finite number of pixels. Therefore, should you attempt to enlarge the graphic; the computer will try to fill in the gaps of the missing pixels with the colors which it thinks matches the spaces. This interpolation of data is what will make the images appear blurry or pixilated, since the computer cannot guess correctly the exactly colors which ought to be in those spaces.

The second advantage of using Raster is the precise editing that they allow the editors to have. When working with Raster graphics, designers have more precise editing control over the details and the color information. It will interest you to know that all the individual pixels with the color information in Raster images can be edited one by one, therefore, if you are a perfectionist designer, then Raster images gives you the highest levels of customization possible. The editing possibilities are simply endless.

On the other hand, there are certain characteristic of Raster images that are not admirable at all. The first con of these graphics is that they are blurry or get pixilated when enlarged. This is because the images are made of a finite number of pixels and when they are enlarged, the computer tries to guess the right color that should be in the additional gaps. The image will thus appear blurry because the computer has no way of telling the right color which should be filled in the gaps.

The second con for Raster graphics lies on their size. They are large in nature and might sometimes compromise the processing powers of the computers, even for faster machines.

Vector Graphics

Unlike Raster graphics which are comprised of individual pixels, vector graphics uses math to draw shapes in form of dots, curves and lines and they are infinitely scalable. The graphics uses the original math equation to create consistent shapes irrespective of whether they are being scaled up or down. This is why vector graphics are preferred for logos and large scale printing. For creating graphics meant for the web, you are free to use vector or Raster graphics since it is possible to export vector images to popular Raster formats such as png, jpg, etc.

Pros and cons of vector graphics

As indicated earlier, one of the pros of vector graphics is that they can be scaled infinitely without them compromising the image quality in any way. With them, you don’t have to worry about missing pixels, since the original mathematic equation will be applied to the shape consistently at all times.

Secondly, vector images are relatively smaller thus easy to work with and will not affect the processing power of computers as is the case with large Raster files. And finally, unlike their Raster based counterparts, vector graphics are never flattened and this simply implies that the original shapes exist in different layers, giving you the power to modify each element individually.

One of the limitations of vectors is their unsuitability for complex images that might require exact coloring. This is owing to the mathematical nature of how data is remembered by vectors. Though it may be possible to create basic color gradients with vectors, it will not be possible to match the color details available in Raster images, where you can edit each individual pixel.

Learn more common file formats for graphic designers here!

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When it comes to getting a professional logo design you should strongly consider hiring on a professional to handle every aspect of the design process. A professional logo designer will be able to not only create a better logo design for your needs but they can produce more actionable results when it comes to reading the markets as well. Working with a professional logo designer can be a bit of a process but it can prevent costly fixes and with the market research that a design agency or graphic designer can complete for you, your company can have a much greater reach with your logo.

There is definitely a major difference when it comes to a user generated logo, a logo that you purchase from $25 for freelancing site and a professional graphic design logo that may have cost hundreds of dollars. The best graphic designers with experience have access to high grade software licenses, years of experience and they know the questions to ask about your products and your corporate culture to produce a highly striking logo that will convey a message about your company. Professional logo designers know how to come up with creative solutions and iconic logos that can be future proofed.

While a cheaper logo can help to fill an immediate need, a logo completed by professional is something that you could be displaying with your company for 10 or more years. A professional graphic designer or design agency will do the research on your competition, your industry and develop multiple revisions of the same logo design until it’s absolutely perfect.

Here are five of the top reasons that you should consider hiring a professional to do your logo design:

Cost savings:

A graphic designer can be one of the most cost-effective ways that you can produce a logo design because they can complete many of the things in-house or they have industry contacts that can produce all of your marketing material. A designer will also be sure to output the graphic design files for your logo in a format that highly compatible with printers, for the web and for marketing campaigns. The cost of having to redesign your logo if these files are never presented can be great. Hiring a professional graphic designer also provides you with cost savings because you can use your logo for a much longer period. Instead of having a short-term logo that’s only good for a year or two, you can have a logo that’s ready to stand behind your business for 10 years. The cost of a professional graphic designer doesn’t seem too bad considering they would be producing a product that could last a decade or more. Spreading out the cost of a graphic designer or design agency over 10 years can make the cost of professional logo design extremely reasonable.

Time savings:

As a business owner or manager, it can be very difficult to have time available for a professional logo design. With a graphic designer producing a professional logo with the help of their industry-leading software, it’s possible to save time through the design process and more. Not only will you get the output files in a highly scalable and compatible format but you can often receive mockups and marketing material with your logo on it that might take you hours to create without a proper logo design.

Forging your own path:

A professional graphic designer can help you to forge your own path in your industry. A template logo or simple logo won’t get you noticed and it certainly won’t get you business. By following current trends in design and setting yourself apart from the competition your brand can soar. Raising your business and your logo above the competition is best done with the help of a professional.

Consistency:

A graphic designer will be able to produce consistent branding across your company. By going to the effort of hiring a designer you also get to take advantage of all of their experience. Your professional logo design will have consistent font sizes, type settings, color combinations, and images. It’s this type of consistency that really adds the professionalism of your brand and helps to keep your logo one consistent image. If this consistency as well that really helps to improve your brand recognition and to embed the image of your brand in people’s minds.

Getting results:

Companies hire graphic designers because they want to get results. There are many businesses that have a rough idea of what they want their materials and marketing to look like but they don’t have the expertise to produce these professional images. A designer’s job is to listen to your concerns and preferences and then to produce your vision. This is exactly what they have talent in. A graphic designer can help you get results by being able to start your business off on the right foot with the correct marketing materials.

As you can see, a professional graphic designer is indispensable for logo design.

Check out some of the legends of logo design here!

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