Media concepts · Comparison
Raster vs Vector
Enlarging a raster reveals pixels. Scaling a vector redraws clean edges. Conversion between them is asymmetric: vector → raster is common; raster → true vector is hard and often imperfect.
Quick take: Raster images (JPG, PNG, WebP) store pixels. Vector graphics (SVG) store shapes that scale forever. Photos are raster; logos should usually be vector.
Raster strengths
Photographs, complex textures, anything from a camera or screenshot pipeline.
Vector strengths
Logos, icons, diagrams, UI illustrations that must stay sharp on retina displays.
Key points
- Raster = pixels; vector = shapes.
- SVG is the web’s vector workhorse.
- Convert SVG → PNG when a channel rejects vectors.
Raster vs Vector
Raster
- Pixel grid (JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, TIFF)
- Great for photos
- Quality depends on resolution
Vector
- Paths/shapes (SVG, and design-tool natives)
- Great for logos/icons
- Resolution-independent
Camera photo
Pick: Raster (JPG/WebP/AVIF)
Continuous-tone imagery.
Website logo
Pick: Vector (SVG)
Crisp at every size.
Examples
Raster
JPG photo of a city skyline.
Vector
SVG company wordmark.
Try it in a converter
Concepts stick better with a real file — processing stays in your browser.
Related concepts
FAQ
Can I convert a photo to SVG meaningfully?
Auto-tracing exists but rarely matches a designer SVG. Photos stay raster.
Browse all conversion concepts or jump to converters.