Comparisons
Comparisons
People often mix up “format,” “resolution” and “quality,” even though they answer different questions. The format determines how a picture is stored, the resolution how much detail it holds, and the final quality depends on whether both fit the job. The tables below help you choose without memorizing technical details.
There is no best format, just as there is no best shoe size.
How to read the tables: we compare the general properties of formats and ways of storing images. A specific program may add its own settings and exceptions, so if in doubt, check its help.
Raster vs vector
| Criterion | Raster | Vector |
|---|---|---|
| Made of | A grid of pixels, each with its own color | Curves, lines and fills described mathematically |
| Scaling | Loses sharpness when enlarged: pixels and blurry edges show through | Recalculated for any size without losing sharpness |
| Best for | Photos, scans, artwork with smooth color transitions | Logos, icons, diagrams, lettering, cutting layouts |
| Typical formats | JPEG, PNG | SVG, plus PDF, which can hold both vector and raster |
| Possible surprise | A heavy file at large sizes | A photo can't honestly be turned into vector |
JPEG vs PNG vs SVG vs PDF
| Criterion | JPEG | PNG | SVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it stores | A raster image | A raster image | Vector graphics | Document pages: text, vector and raster together |
| Transparency | Not supported | Supported | Supported | Possible, depends on the content |
| Compression | Lossy, with an adjustable level | Lossless | A text description of shapes, usually light for simple drawings | Depends on the save settings |
| Use it for | Photos for screens and sending | Screenshots, diagrams, pictures with a transparent background | Logos and icons for websites | Documents for reading, sending and printing |
Screen vs print
| Criterion | Screen | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit of size | Pixels: the picture's width and height | Print size and dots per inch |
| Guideline | The size of the spot where the picture appears | A common guideline is 300 dots per inch |
| Color model | RGB: color is built from light | CMYK: color is built from inks on paper |
| Possible surprise | The same colors look slightly different on different screens | Bright on-screen colors come out more muted on paper |
Read next
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: crop, shrink and compress a picture and get it ready for an email, a slide or print. The article catalog lives here too.
- Glossary
Key terms: pixel, resolution, dots per inch, raster, vector, Bézier curve, compression, transparency and alt text.
- If it looks off
What to do when a picture turns blurry or jagged, gets too heavy, loses its transparent background or looks dull on paper.
- Tools
The kinds of programs and features that help with images, from the built-in photo viewer to a vector editor and the eyedropper.
- Questions
Answers about this reference, about picture sizes and formats, about printing and about using images found online.
Sources
- Documentation for graphics formats and editors (general principles)
- Clipday editorial materials
This advice is written in general terms as of the date it was prepared. Menu items, save dialogs and export settings are named differently from one editor to the next and change with updates, so check the help for the program you actually use rather than matching our wording exactly.