What Are Vector Images and How Can You Use Them in Web Design? 

When creating online design projects or developing merchandise prints, digital artists prefer to use high-quality visuals that are easy to manipulate. In order to ensure this convenience, it’s important to choose a suitable type of graphic for your project. 

Vector pictures are excellent for web design, as these graphics are small in size and don’t lose their quality after considerable zooming. These features allow creators to develop responsive and visually appealing projects. In this article, you will discover the benefits and common ways to use vectors in web design. Read on!

What is vector art?

Vectors are digital graphics created with vector primitives—simple geometric shapes, lines, curves, and points, where mathematical formulas determine the coordinates of each element. Vector illustrations are drawn in specialized software. You can acquire basic design skills and create vector images on your own. You need a PC or tablet to download vector-based software like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or CorelDRAW.

There are several file types compatible with these graphics editors. The most commonly used vector formats are: 

• AI (Adobe Illustrator)—a widespread vector format, compatible with the native graphics editor—Adobe Illustrator. Illustrators prefer this format to create vector graphics with good scalability properties. When opening AI files in other graphics editors, they are automatically converted into PDF format. Moreover, AI-formatted vectors are compatible with a specific Adobe Illustrator version. This way, you can’t open new AI files in the older software. 

• SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)—a vector graphic’s format is specifically developed for displaying pictures on the web using XML code. Working with SVGs, designers can also create animated, interactive scenes for their projects. 

• PDF (Portable Document Format)—a popular cross-platform file format that allows storing text and vector graphics. The format is compatible with several Adobe applications, like Adobe Reader or Adobe Illustrator. PDF is suitable for creating illustrated documents. 

• EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)—a vector format specifically developed for creating printed materials like posters, flyers, business cards, and merchandise. EPS can store rasters, vectors, and their combinations. The format is compatible with popular vector-based software like Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and Inkscape. 

• CDR (CorelDRAW)—a native to CorelDRAW vector format, mainly used for creating logos and illustrations. When manipulating files of this format in an application, you can also apply visual effects. 

What are the benefits of vector graphics?

Vector graphics and illustrations are convenient for various design operations due to their specific features. Professional and amateur creators can develop eye-catching visuals and user-friendly interfaces. Check out the main properties of vector graphics below. 

• Scalability. In contrast to raster graphics, you can easily zoom in on vectors without quality loss. The reason is that a vector file keeps mathematical formulas that automatically recalculate the coordinates of each primitive. This feature allows designers to create responsive projects sharply displayed on any device, whether PC, tablet, or smartphone. 

• Editability. Since vector graphics are made of simple geometrical shapes, lines, and curves, designers can quickly manipulate such illustrations in vector-based software, customizing and adapting pictures to a specific project. For example, you can recolor a logo into a corporate palette or make its lines bold. 

• Small file size. A vector file contains less data than a raster, as it only stores a mathematical formula, not information on every pixel in the image. Therefore, it has a smaller size. You can use vector graphics to optimize your website’s loading speed. 

Where can you utilize vector illustrations?

You can use vector illustrations for versatile design purposes, e.g., corporate branding, offline and online marketing campaigns, mobile apps, and websites. Due to scalability, vectors can be easily implemented on small flyers and large billboards. In developing mobile applications, designers use vectors to create interfaces that encourage users to take an action, e.g., register, browse, or purchase a product. It’s also possible to implement simple animated scenes using vectors in your projects, e.g., develop eye-catching hover effects for your buttons or make illustration elements move. 

Where can you download stock vector illustrations?

When searching for vectors on accessible internet sources, you may find your downloaded file has a raster format. For this reason, it’s better to download vector graphics on stock content marketplaces that provide pictures in their original format. 

Depositphotos is one of the largest international stock content marketplaces featuring 54+ million royalty-free vector graphics to boost your web designs. In their library, you can also find photos, illustrations, clip art, icon sets, infographics, music, and videos. The platform offers thematic categories and trendy collections where creators can find relevant HD visuals for their commercial and personal projects. The advanced search filtering system allows you to sort pictures by needed criteria, e.g., color, date, contributor, location, origin, and number of people. 

How can you download stock vector illustrations from Depositphotos?

1. Follow the link: https://depositphotos.com/stock-vectors.html.
2. Enter your query and start searching. 
3. Browse suggested visuals and apply additional filters if needed. 
4. Choose a preferred image.
5. Select the file type and download the vector on your device. 

Conclusion

You can use vector graphics for versatile purposes, e.g., a website or printed material design. These visuals are easily scalable and editable. Their small size allows digital creators to develop eye-catching, responsive, and optimized projects. Browse extensive online libraries of thematic vector pictures to find high-quality, licensed graphics.