Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
appropriate for continuous-tone images such as photographs or artwork created in
painting programs. A disadvantage of bitmap graphics is that they contain a fixed
number of pixels. As a result, they can lose detail and appear jagged when scaled
up on screen or printed at a lower resolution than they were created for.
Vector graphics are made up of lines and curves defined by mathematical objects
called
vectors
. These graphics retain their crispness whether they are moved, res-
ized, or have their color changed. Vector graphics are appropriate for illustrations,
type, and graphics such as logos that may be scaled to different sizes.
Logo drawn as vector art
Logo rasterized as bitmap art
About paths and the Pen tool
In Photoshop, the outline of a vector shape is a
path
. A path is a curved or straight
line segment you draw using the Pen tool, Freeform Pen tool, or a shape tool. The
Pen tool draws paths with the greatest precision; shape tools draw rectangles, el-
lipses, and other shape paths; the Freeform Pen tool draws paths as if you were
drawing with a pencil on paper.
