Design software creates and edits visual graphics, especially when coding is not the main tool. Its most useful distinction is between raster and vector images. section 1.5.4
Choose the image type according to how the graphic will be edited and scaled:
- Raster images store colored pixels. Resolution matters: low-resolution images contain fewer pixels per square inch and can lose fidelity when enlarged. JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP are raster formats. section 1.5.4
- Vector images store drawing instructions as paths, fills, and strokes. They scale up or down while retaining fidelity, although stroke widths can behave differently from filled shapes. section 1.5.4
- Adobe Photoshop specializes in raster editing, while Adobe Illustrator specializes in vector creation and editing. section 1.5.4
A visual analogy
A pointillist painting resembles a raster image when viewed closely: many separate colored points combine into a coherent picture. A vector graphic instead resembles instructions for an imaginary pen moving along paths. section 1.5.4
Compare how enlarging a stroke differs from enlarging a filled path. section 1.5.4
