Vector graphics facts for kids

Vector graphics is a special way computers create images. Instead of using tiny colored squares called pixels, vector graphics use mathematical descriptions of shapes. Imagine drawing with lines, curves, and circles. These shapes are called "geometrical objects."

This picture shows how vector graphics are different from pixel-based images.

Computers use math, like vectors and matrices, to remember how these shapes look. This means a vector image can be made much bigger or smaller without getting blurry or pixelated. It always stays clear and sharp!

The other main way computers make pictures is called raster graphics. Raster graphics use a grid of many tiny pixels to create an image, like a photograph.

How Vector Graphics Are Different

Vector images are very different from raster images. Raster images are made of tiny squares called pixels. When you zoom in on a raster image, you start to see these individual squares, and the image can look blurry.

Vector images, however, are made of mathematical formulas. When you zoom in on a vector image, the computer simply recalculates the math. This means the lines and shapes always stay smooth and clear, no matter how big you make them.

Where Vector Graphics Are Used

Vector graphics are perfect for things that need to look sharp at any size. They are often used for:

• Logos: A company logo needs to look good on a tiny business card or a huge billboard. Vector graphics make this possible.
• Illustrations: Many drawings and cartoons are made with vector graphics.
• Diagrams and Charts: These often use simple shapes and lines, which are ideal for vector graphics.
• Fonts: The letters you see on your screen are usually vector shapes. This is why text looks smooth at any size.

Photographs, on the other hand, are almost always raster images. They have too much detail and too many colors to be easily described by simple shapes.

Related pages

• Raster graphics

Images for kids

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  A video game similar to Asteroids played on an old vector monitor.

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  An original photo before it was changed into a vector image.

In Spanish: Gráfico vectorial para niños