How to save an image in vector format. How to Convert JPEG to Vector Image

In what format should the logo be? There are a huge number of formats in which you can save it.

Each of them has its own purpose, as well as advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is very important to know the features of the most popular graphic formats to know the possibilities of using each of them.
But before we start talking about graphic formats, we need to clarify what in the world graphic files There are two main types of formats: raster and vector graphics. This is a very important point. People who have been working with graphic editors, they know perfectly well what the difference is, and beginners need to learn this in order to know how to do it correctly.

Vector graphics

Vector images are formed from different lines and geometric shapes, the size of which is determined by mathematical equations.

Advantages vector images:
— such images always retain excellent quality when scaled and edited;
— the image size has almost no effect on the file size, so it is always small.

Flaws vector images:
- the images are not realistic;
— not many effects are available.

Images vector graphics in most cases they have the extension AI, CDR, CGM, DXF. CorelDraw is the most popular graphics editor.

Examples showing the effect of vector graphics when zoomed in:

Raster graphics

The essence of raster images is that they resemble a table with many small cells. Table cells are called pixels. Pixel is a particle of a raster image. All pixels are the same in size and shape. Each pixel has its own color and coordinates. Because the pixels are very small, this mosaic appears as one piece if the image quality is good. With high resolution, our eyes do not see the “pixelation” of the image.

Advantages raster images:
— realism, they are able to convey graphics consisting of thousands of small details;
- You can apply many different effects to images;
- by using raster graphics you can create almost any drawing, of any complexity, which is why it is more common.

Flaws raster images:
— large size files;
— loss of quality when scaling.

Raster graphics images in most cases have the extension JPG, BMP, GIF, PNG, PSD.
Let's look at what happens to a raster image when enlarged:
The most popular program for editing raster images - Photoshop.

Logo formats

Now that we have clarified for ourselves what vector and raster graphics are and why they are needed, let's move on to a review of graphic files in which you can save your logo.

Vector formats

.Ai – Adobe Illustrator

The vector file format .Ai from Adobe allows you to save the file in its original form - all logo elements, such as icons, text, are available for editing and can be edited at any time in the future. To open a logo in Ai format, you will need special programs such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW.

In most cases, you can change the text in this format. Opens using programs: Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW

Functions: needed to make changes to the original logo.

.EPS – Encapsulated PostScript

This file type is needed for more high quality logo printing: it allows you to scale the logo without losing quality. The advantage of a logo in EPS format is the ability to simultaneously use both raster and vector image elements. However, editing a logo in EPS format is much more difficult than, for example, in Ai format.

Open with: Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Inkscape.

Functions: for use on printed media, scaling for printing.

.PDF – Portable Document Format

The vector format.PDF is preferred by many designers for a number of reasons. PDF is a convenient format because it displays all fonts, page layouts, vector and raster images without modification.

Opens Adobe programs Reader, Foxit Reader, Preview.
Editable with programs such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Inkscape.
Functions: image viewing and printing.

Raster formats

.PNG – Portable Network Graphics

PNG is a great format for logos. It is capable of “compressing” files without distortion. PNG was created to replace GIF files, which include only 256 colors.

Open with: Photoshop (convenient for editing), or any other image viewing program.

Functions: For web graphics and print (300 dpi)

.JPG / .JPEG – Joint Photographic Experts Group

JPEG is the most common image format on the web. The JPEG logo is compressed so files load faster. Also in JPEG format can be saved in higher quality, not very distinguishable from vector graphics images.

Open in Photoshop to edit, for viewing - in any other program.

Functions: Web graphics and printing (300 dpi).

.TIFF – Tagged Image File Format

TIFF - big brothers JPEG file ov. TIFF files higher quality, and occupy more space on your hard drive.

Open in Photoshop – for editing, for viewing opens in any program.
What is it used for: generally for printing (300dpi).

“Minimum set” of logo formats

To use a logo for all occasions, you need to have a logo file in the following formats:
— .Ai – for the ability to edit the logo. Change color, background, scale.
— .EPS or .PDF – for printing.
— .PNG — for printing and working on the Internet (for a website, social pages). You definitely need a PNG version of the logo transparent background, to place it in the website header, on a business card, like a watermark on a photograph.

Creating a Document and Drawing an Object

First let's create new document any size and layer.

Now let's draw any image. Take the Brush tool with unblurred edges and full opacity. Let's draw some simple geometric figure, for example, as shown in the image.

Selecting a raster object

To translate a raster image, you must first select it with any Select tool. Now select the drawn object either using the Wand Tool, or click on the layer with the left mouse button while holding down the Ctrl key.

Convert a selected object to a vector path (Path)

Using any tool of the Select type, we call context menu. To do this, you need to point the tool at the selected object and press the right mouse button. In the menu that appears, select “Make Work Path...”.

A window will appear where you will need to enter the tolarence parameter, which determines how much control points will contain a vector shape, the more of them, the smoother the vector object will be, but the quality of the control points will be low.

Creating a vector mask for a layer from a vector path

Go to the Paths tab, where the vector path we just created should appear.

Double click on it to give it a name.

Then from the main menu select “Layer -> New Fill Layer -> Solid Color...”. Can you call me something new layer, then click “ok”. Select a color for the future shape in the color selection dialog.

Now a new layer with a vector mask should appear in the Layers tab.

How to Save a Vector Object to a Vector Shape Library in Photoshop

You will then be prompted to name the new vector object. Click "ok" and then check new object in the library using the Custom Shapes Tool.

If you found the lesson on converting raster to vector useful, please share it on social network(icons below).

How often the need to perform such an action arises is well known to those who work professionally and semi-professionally with graphics. Own collections of vector images will also never interfere with those who run an Internet resource with graphic materials.

The fact is that vector images are good because they can be enlarged to almost any size (resolution) from an actual miniature, so they are extremely convenient to use when creating, for example, posters. And, by the way, the enlarged image will not lose quality. While JPEG image Enough to enlarge it just twice, and, most likely, the picture will already become fuzzy.
Convert JPEG to vector image maybe a whole series paid programs. However, most of them are extremely expensive in relation to the limited volume color range which they are capable of reproducing. But it exists amazingly simple technique, which is used by the free Inkscape program (it can be officially legally downloaded from the open resource inkscape.org), with good ability to reproduce color images.

Difficulty of use: moderate.

We create our own vector images for clipart for free. Process:

1. Download Inkscape - freely distributed free program- from the official resource. The site is mainly in Russian, directly at home page click “Download Now” - in present moment Russian-language version 0.48.1 is available. Install the program on your computer in the usual way (it will take about 4 minutes).

2. Launch the program.

3. Select the “File” item in the menu bar, then the “Import” item in the list that opens; Import or download an image.

4. In the window that opens, find the folder containing the JPEG file that you want to convert to a vector image. Select the file and click OK.

4.a. Select “Embed” or “Link” raster in the small window that appears. In the first option you will get a new (final) independent (independent) vector file, with which you can work freely, in the second option you will have to carry the original JPEG file along with the resulting vector file associated with it, which is inconvenient. But in the first case, the file size will be larger.

5. After the image loads, if it is not already selected (depending on the version of the program used), you need to click on it - hover the cursor and left-click (i.e. select the image, select it). After clicking, the image will be surrounded by a group of arrows. If you do not select an image, its preview will not appear in the Trace Bitmap window, and you will not be able to convert JPEG or any other image format to vector.

5.a. Clicking on the image in latest version program, you can also choose the format of the arrows - to enlarge the picture, or to rotate/tilt.

6. In the menu bar at the top, select “Path”, then “Trace Bitmap” from the list that opens.

7. Select the “Colors” option in the lower left corner, then increase the number of “Scans” several times and click on the button called “Update” located under the image preview . Increasing the number of scans increases the image resolution, which in turn increases the file size and the time required to generate the final, recoded image. Experiment with these settings to get the final image that suits you best for your purposes in terms of size and quality. Remember to click the "Update" button every time you change something in the settings. Upon receipt desired result in the preview, click “OK”, wait until the image is re-encoded, then close the small window.

7.a. In order to change the number of scans after clicking OK in the “Vectorize Raster” window, you must!create new file and start the whole process all over again!, and not change the current version, because the changes WILL NOT BE DISPLAYED in the final picture!

8. Save the final image in one of the formats corresponding to the vector image. For most programs, complexes and applications in which you may subsequently want to use the resulting image, the EPS format is perfect.

This is the source (48.3 KB):

This is the final image with only the steps listed above (with a maximum number of scans of 256, without other settings, we get this option, a file size of 2.9 MB - it is re-encoded back to JPEG so that it can be presented here on the site as an example) :

And here is this option at 256, if you increase the image size, increase the threshold and remove anti-aliasing (7.25 MB):

That is, the program performs its functions perfectly, if you play a little with the settings!

Additions:
- To perform vector conversion, you don't need to know much about Inkscape. All functions are mostly automated. The program offers a lot additional options, which you can use to see potential changes in certain actions, but you won’t need them for the main task. In any case, if you wish, it will not be difficult to master them using the scientific method; everything is quite intuitive.

If you have Adobe Illustrator version CS2 or higher installed on your computer, use the Live Trace feature. In versions below CS2, a similar feature is called "Autotrace".

Often there is a need to convert a raster image into a vector one. This can be done using CorelDraw and others special programs. However, it will be much easier and more convenient to use online service, for example, such as the hero of our today's review.

Image Vectorizer – free service converting raster to vector. At the exit you will receive SVG file. Supports image uploading following formats: JPG (JPEG), PNG and BMP. There is a limit on the size of the uploaded file - it should not exceed 1MB. It’s not enough, of course, but it’s quite enough for small-sized pictures.

How does raster to vector conversion work?

Vector graphics are a set of curves, points, lines that are represented by mathematical expressions. Raster graphics are a collection of pixels with color and brightness values. Online converter finds areas with the same brightness and color parameters and represents them as lines, curves and circles.

As a result of this, a raster image of SVG format can be infinitely enlarged without loss of quality.

Converting raster to vector

The online service begins its work immediately after loading the original image.

On the left of the screen you see the source file with a set of colors detected in it, on the right – the result:

Using the available tools you can:

Disable the presence of certain colors
Set the total number of colors in an SVG file
Set Tolerance and Blur

By changing the parameters and pressing the “Update” button, you immediately see the final result. In order not to struggle with the settings for a long time, you can also use a ready-made set of presets:

Photography (many/few colors)
Drawing (many/few colors)
Clipart (black and white, many/few colors)

By clicking on the + and – buttons on the right side of the window, you can increase or decrease the values of Color, Detail, Border Width. There you can merge all layers with flowers into a single layer.

After you are satisfied with the result, click the “Download” button and download the vector image in SVG format to your disk. Everything is free.

The service also has such a feature as a G-code generator. I can't imagine what it's needed for. If anyone knows, write in the comments.

While my article about masks in Photoshop is still active, I urgently want to cover the issue of converting a raster into a vector. Two days ago, I logged into my chronophagy Google Analytics and what did I see? It turns out that some people end up on my site using the request “raster to vector”, but meanwhile, on my site there is not a single sensible note on this topic. People are torturing Google to convert raster to vector in Corel Draw, Illustrator and even Adobe Photoshop . Let's start with Photoshop.

From raster to vector. Why is this necessary?

Photoshop is a raster program. The vector is present in it in the form of vector contours. There are no vector objects as such in Photoshop. But there are vector paths that can be converted into a vector mask. The mask is applied to an effect or object and a vector is obtained in Photoshop. The contents of such an object are still raster, but can be converted to a vector when saved in some formats.

For example, we can create a fill and drag a vector mask over it. Photoshop has a whole group of tools that do this for free and automatically, this is a group of vector primitives. Read my article or for more details. So the contour will be vector. Filling inside the raster.

Photoshop does not work with vector at full power. Only uses its advantages here and there. But even in Photoshop, raster objects can be turned into vector ones. Why is this necessary if you have Illustrator? Well, how can I tell you? At active work With graphics, different situations arise. Sometimes it’s easier to convert a selection into a path on the spot than to go headlong into Illustrator and do tracing there. To weed a strawberry bed at your dacha, you don’t need to call a combine harvester. In the end, not everyone wants or knows how to use Illustrator, not everyone needs it, not everyone can install it, but you need to convert the squiggle into a vector here and now. It is not at all necessary to sit down with three volumes on Illustrator for a couple of weeks.

Converting raster to vector in Photoshop

What exactly can Photoshop convert into a vector? Anything as long as you select this object with the group tools in advance Select. Photoshop converts any selection into an outline. You can read about selection tools in the article. Let me give you a working example. Many years ago, I was approached by a very difficult customer who requested a complex website. It was necessary to do various art for the site, and I decided to draw it in Photoshop. While drawing, I converted it to vector, and now I'll tell you how. Here is one such image that I painted with a hard edge brush on a tablet. I traced the original Vitruvian Man, modified it and drew my own face, different from the original. The idea to vectorize art came by accident. But having implemented it, I got the opportunity to scale a person in any way I wanted. Moreover, previously jagged edges and irregularities were smoothed out after vectorization.

Finding an image to trace

I looked up a butterfly on Google Images. We will convert it into a vector. Please note that the larger the image, the smoother our vector object will turn out. This is true for both Photoshop and Illustrator. By large image I mean a picture that is 1000 pixels wide or more. My butterfly, for example, is from 2000 pixels.

Selecting an object

Select from menu Tool the most ordinary magic wand Magic Wand Tool and click on the white area. This way we have created a selection area, but we need to select the butterfly.

Go to Select > Inverse or click on the work area and select from the menu that appears Select Inverse. The point is that the created selection must be inverted to select the butterfly. To be honest, I don’t really care how you create your selection. Even though you manually trace the lasso, it doesn't make any difference.

Create a vector outline

We have a selected area, now let's convert it to vector outline path. Select any selection tool like Lasso Tool, Rectangular Marquee Tool or Magic Wand Tool. Right-click on the selection area and select from the menu that appears Make Work Path. In the menu that appears, set the degree of smoothing Tolerance to taste. The dependence is simple. The higher the number, the higher the smoothing. The lower the number, the lower the smoothing. High anti-aliasing means a lower number of vector nodes and more inaccurate raster contour following. In the case of my Vitruvian Man, this is exactly the effect I wanted.

So, in the palette Path We now have a working circuit. If you don't have a palette Path open it Windows > Path Palette working area Path looks like a desktop or temporary home. Different outlines may appear on it, but if you take care of consistent conservation, they will disappear over time. Double click on the outline Work Path and save the outline separately. Contours in the area Path work the same as layers in a palette Layers. If the outline is selected, then it is active and you can work with it.

Tools for working with paths in Photoshop - Path Selection Tool And Direct Selection Tool. We have an outline, but no object. If you've read my series of posts about vectors in Photoshop, you already know that a vector in Photoshop is represented as a vector mask for some kind of effect or graphics. The vector may also be present in the form of a smart layer that links to the imported Illustrator file, but we’ll leave that for another note. Select the outline with the tool Path Selection Tool or in the outline palette Path. Click Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color We have created a fill layer, which is immediately assigned a vector mask in the form of our outline.

Finalization of the vector outline

Using the materials that I described in the articles, we will complicate the drawing. I took the tool Pen Tool , selected the fill layer mask. In settings Pen Tool exhibited Subtract and added some elements to our butterfly. I cut out patterns on the wings, and made the legs and antennae thicker.

Creating a custom shape Custom Shapes

You can always save the resulting object in arbitrary figures Custom Shapes. Some time ago I mentioned how this can be done in an article. Select the butterfly layer and click Edit > Define Custom Shape Our butterfly appeared in the tool shapes Custom Shapes Tool.

And here's what we ended up with:

Converting a raster photo into a vector in Photoshop is a completely pointless exercise. But sometimes such techniques can be useful for side work with graphics and more.

Converting from raster to vector photography in Photoshop

Photoshop is not designed to convert raster graphics into vector. It, however, contains several special effects that visually create the resemblance of a vector image. And using the technique I described, you can make a vector image from them in Photoshop. Let's take for example an ordinary photograph, taken by a photographer friend of mine.

One of the effects I mentioned is Filter > Artistic > Cutout I leave the settings up to you. The image should be as realistic as possible, but highly smoothed. We could stop here, the image already looks “vector”, but it is still raster.

Now you need to create vector areas equal to the number of colors in the photo. Choose a stick Magic Wand Tool and make sure that the checkbox is not checked in the settings Contiguous. Select the first area and follow the entire path I described above. Create a path from the selection, a filled vector mask from the path, and so on.

In total, the entire photo is converted into vector areas. We will not convert the last white area into a vector. Just draw big white square tool Rectangle Tool and place it under all layers. After some light cleaning and contouring, the photo looks like the image below. And once again, such work is not intended for Photoshop and is rather a perversion. But it can be done, and in various situations such techniques can be useful. Processing the photo took me 10 minutes, so this kind of work doesn’t take up a lot of time. And remember what larger size If you arrange the photo into layers in this way, the better and more elastic the outline will be able to go around the selection areas. The less angular and rough our vector will turn out in Photoshop. Various settings Tolerance when creating a contour they will also give different results. Happy experimenting!