Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Raster or a Bitmap graphic?

A: They are really one and the same. Programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Photo Paint, or Adobe Fireworks display the imagery as a whole bunch of colored pixels. Programs that make the image out of pixels are considered "raster" of "bitmaps". Files that are raster cannot be enlarged beyond the original size it was designed at without a loss in quality. The result will be pixelation, this is where you begin to see little squares within the image because the original pixels were enlarged. The lesson here is that if you design something as raster or a bitmap be sure it is at the size it is going to be printed at. Files extensions for these type of files are .jpg, .tiff, .png.

Q: What is a Vector graphic?

A: Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon(s), which are all based on mathematical equations, to represent images in computer graphics. The result is imagery that can be resized to large or small with out a loss in quality. These files are made by programs like Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, or Adobe Acrobat. There file extentions are .ai, .svg, or .pdf.

Q: What Resolution should my art be?

A: Please bring us work between 300-600 dpi. Dpi is "dots per inch".