Today, the speed of decision and adaptation plays a crucial role in many companies. Due to the widespread access to the Internet and the abundance of social media, new trends emerge every day, prompting brands and companies to quickly adapt their communication to stay on top of trends and attract the attention of their clients.
Because brands typically use text and visuals as a creative medium, it’s essential to use tools that will help quickly adapt existing content and produce new content. Vector graphics often make this task easier, as they are easy to resize and scale, and are lightweight. What other advantages do vectors have? Find out in this article, along with five easy steps that will help you create your own vector-style artwork.
What is a vector drawing?
A vector drawing is a digital image made up of mathematically defined points, lines, and shapes created using computer software, such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW. The most commonly used image formats for vector graphics are SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), EPS (Encapsulated PostScript), PDF (Portable Document Format), and AI (Adobe Illustrator).
Vectors can be stretched infinitely, making them superior to pixel visuals, which lose quality when scaled. Therefore, creators often use vector graphics in digital design to create images that will scale in the future. These include web graphics, branding materials, logos, and billboards.
When creating a new design or concept, most graphic designers download several vector art illustrations from content platforms such as Depositphotos. By browsing https://depositphotos.com/stock-vectors.html you can find rich collections of low cost original vector files that can be used for commercial purposes. Creators then borrow existing shapes or design elements to speed up the creative process. Freelance artists, on the other hand, draw vector art from scratch. These images are then used alone or as part of marketing campaigns, creative concepts or other formats.
Advantages of working with vectors
Scalability #1
Many creators prefer vector graphics over pixel-based images because they are better suited for design projects that require scalable visuals. The mathematical formulas encoded in vector graphics allow an image to maintain its high quality, no matter how much the designer scales it. Therefore, vectors are an integral part of modern digital design, including responsive web design, which ensures that the same content displays well on screens of different sizes.
#2 Editability
Vector files are easily editable, allowing designers to quickly change text, colors, shapes, and many other design elements. Additionally, vectors are simple to duplicate, making it easy to copy features from one image to another.
Editability is crucial for marketing campaigns and creative projects with tight deadlines that require extensive editing. Typically, visuals and promotional materials within the same project are scaled to accommodate different sizes of screens, banners, billboards, and merchandise.
#3 Compact File Size
Unlike raster graphics, which are made up of pixels that carry a lot of weight, vector files are small in size. This is due to the construction of the file itself. Vectors consist only of mathematically defined geometric shapes, such as points, lines, and curves, which are expressed in code. Therefore, when talking about storage, they take up less space.
The size of a vector file also affects its loading speed. Designers can transfer and upload vector files to various devices and applications much faster than other graphic files. Loading speed makes vectors preferable for mobile and web graphics that benefit from small file sizes.
#4 Versatile
The most important advantage of vector art and drawings is that they are versatile and can be used in virtually any digital or creative project. Resolution independence, small size and ease of editing make them ideal for logos, icons, illustrations, animations, infographics, branding materials, web graphics, UX/UI and computer-aided design. Moreover, they are available in various formats, including AI, SVG, EPS and PDF, supported by the most popular computer design software, such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW and Affinity Designer.
Learn how to make a vector drawing with Adobe Illustrator
1. Sketch
To get an idea of what your final design will look like, it’s best to plan out your creative resources in your sketchbook. Also decide which color palette will suit your artwork: bold and bright or minimalist and understated.
2. Import your sketch to vectorize it
After creating your sketch, use it as a reference to speed up the creation process. Working from existing shapes is easier than using a pencil to create new ones.
To vectorize an existing image, use the Rectangle, Circle, and Pen tools. They will help block large shapes. Duplicate some elements afterwards to avoid drawing them twice; it will speed up the process and save you time.
3. Add colors to your shapes
Once you are done drawing lines and shapes, you can add colors to your image. Limit your palette to gain efficiency and control your time. In addition to making your final artwork look more harmonious, using a limited color palette simplifies the creative process.
4. Refine the small details
Pay attention to the small details when all the big jobs are done. Add accents and touches that will make your work stand out. It can be modeled on clothes or reflections in water.
5. Repeat the process to create more vector art
You can repeat these steps over and over again to create a complete image for your next project. However, download ready-to-use vectors from stock platforms if you want to simplify the process. Edit them as you wish or borrow essential elements for your vector art illustration.
To sum up
Although vectors aren’t always the best choice for complex graphic displays, they’re still versatile enough to be used for many purposes, including web design, animations, and infographics. Consider using vector graphics in your next projects to quickly adapt visuals and text to changing trends and customer needs.