是否曾经将照片放大得太远并看到它像素化？使用数码相机创建的图像只能以特定分辨率显示。你可以减小它们的大小，但放大它们可能会很棘手——你会在这个过程中失去质量。这些图像（光栅图像）非常适合自拍，但在创建时需要考虑尺寸。
对于可缩放图像，您需要使用矢量图像(vector image)，但什么是矢量图像(vector image)？标志(Logos)、印刷设计等等——这些通常缺乏固定尺寸。矢量(Vector)图像使您能够在不损失任何质量的情况下放大（或缩小）这些图像。这是(s everything)您需要了解的有关矢量图像(vector image)的所有信息，包括如何制作自己的图像。
什么是矢量图像？(What Is a Vector Image?)
矢量图像(vector image)就像一张可缩放的地图，点 A 和 B 之间的距离保持成(A and B)比例，即使整个图像的大小增加。
矢量图像本质上是关于(Vector)编辑者或查看者(editor or viewer)应该如何创建图像的数字指令。这允许您的设备生成具有清晰曲线和线条的图像，没有模糊、没有像素化和图像质量下降(image degradation)。
与放大到JPG 或 BMP(JPG or BMP)等光栅图像文件(raster image file)时看到的静态、不灵活的像素网格不同，矢量图像是(vector image)使用设置的数学指令以数字方式创建的。由于数学的魔力，矢量图像(vector image)上A 和 B(A and B)之间的同一点将保持成比例。
如果您是图形设计师(graphics designer)，您将立即了解矢量图像比光栅图像为您提供的优势。在开始之前不必担心图像的分辨率，您可以创建任何尺寸的图像。
在那之后，一切都与规模有关——像SVG这样的格式的矢量图像(vector image)可以根据需要制作得尽可能小或大。这就是为什么矢量图像(vector image)格式通常最适合艺术和设计项目(art and design projects)，尤其是在您创建徽标或要打印的设计时。
如何查看矢量图像 (How To View Vector Images )
矢量(Vector)图像不是一种不寻常的图像格式(image format)。您应该能够在您的网络浏览器(web browser)中打开它们，或者使用像Inkscape这样的(Inkscape)矢量图像软件(vector image software)。矢量(Vector)图像也将在Photoshop等标准图像编辑器或(Photoshop)Illustrator等专用图形编辑器中打开。
然而，对于大多数用户来说，最简单的方法是使用您的浏览器。大多数主要的网络浏览器都支持矢量图像(vector image)。例如，要在Google Chrome中打开矢量图像(vector image)，请单击File > Open File并选择您的矢量图像文件(vector image file)。如果它是像SVG这样的标准格式，Chrome应该会生成图像并允许您查看它。
SVG图像也可以在Notepad++等文本编辑器中打开，因为SVG文件只是几行XML 代码(XML code)。如果您愿意，可以通过这种方式编辑矢量图像设计。(vector image design)然后使用文件中指定的设计动态生成图像。无论您是在浏览器还是图像编辑器(browser or image editor)中查看，此过程都是相同的。
但是，其他图像文件(image file)格式的工作方式可能不同。某些文档格式（例如PDF）被认为是矢量图像，但可以生成包含其他类型的内容，包括光栅图像。这些也可以在您的网络浏览器(web browser)中打开，但也可能需要专门的PDF 阅读器(PDF reader)才能打开。
在 Inkscape 中创建和编辑矢量图像(Creating & Editing Vector Images In Inkscape)
如果您想创建或编辑矢量图像(vector image)，您需要一个合适的矢量图像编辑器(vector image editor)。正如我们所提到的，您可以使用文本编辑器手动编辑(text editor)SVG 图像(SVG image)文件，但这对大多数用户来说并不实用。
矢量图像(Vector image)编辑器存在于所有主要平台上。其中，有两个被认为是最知名的——Inkscape 和 Adobe Illustrator(known—Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator)。对于初学者和业余爱好者，Inkscape是最佳选择。它是一个免费的开源矢量图像编辑器(vector image editor)，适用于Windows、Linux和 macOS 用户。
- 要在Inkscape中创建矢量图像(vector image)，您需要做的就是创建一个新文件 - SVG 文件是默认的Inkscape 文件(Inkscape file)格式。打开Inkscape时将创建一个新画布，但按File > New 手动创建一个新画布。
- 要在Inkscape中打开(Inkscape)图像文件(image file)，请按File > Open。
- 您还可以通过获取现有位图图像(bitmap image)并跟踪它以在其位置创建匹配的矢量图像来创建(vector image)矢量图像。(vector image)为此，请按Path > Trace Bitmap。
- 在此处选择亮度截止(Brightness cutoff)设置 - 您需要调整阈值(Threshold)数字以查看其性能如何，但0.500-1.000是一个不错的起点。按更新(Update)查看预览。
- Inkscape 可以执行多次扫描以尝试使最终的矢量图像(vector image)尽可能准确。在“扫描(Scans)”框和部分下设置扫描次数，然后按“确定(OK)”开始该过程。
Inkscape 的替代品(Alternatives To Inkscape)
虽然对于大多数希望创建矢量图像的用户来说， Inkscape是一个不错的免费选择，但您当然应该考虑其他替代方案。
最大的一个是Adobe Illustrator，它是一个专业的、行业标准的矢量图像图形设计工具(design tool)。它需要付费的Adobe Creative Cloud 订阅(Adobe Creative Cloud subscription)，并且仅在Windows 和 macOS(Windows and macOS)上可用。
您可以在iPhone 和 iPad(iPhone and iPad)上下载功能较弱的Illustrator版本，但这将缺少桌面用户可用的一些高级功能。
您还可以使用Vectr等服务在线编辑或创建新的矢量图像，该服务提供免费的在线矢量图像编辑器。它不如Inkscape 或 Illustrator(Inkscape or Illustrator)强大，但它可以帮助您快速创建富有想象力的新设计。
也存在其他Inkscape替代方案。对于 macOS 用户，Sketch是一个不错的选择，尤其是对于 UI 设计师。Sketch使用它自己的专有文件格式，但(file format)Inkscape 和 Adobe Illustrator(Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator)支持这种格式。Sketch 不是(Sketch isn)免费的，但您可以免费试用 30 天。
使用图像编辑软件(Using Image Editing Software)
借助免费的图像编辑软件，在任何平台上创建高质量图像从未如此简单。如果您是移动用户，照片编辑应用程序可以将您的基本快照转换为适合您的社交媒体页面的高质量内容。(high-quality content)
如果你对设计感兴趣，你会想要一个高质量的矢量图像编辑器(high-quality vector image editor)。您无需为此花一分钱——Inkscape 是开源的，可在包括 macOS 在内的所有平台上免费使用。如果您想在Mac上编辑光栅图像，则需要一个免费的 Mac 图像编辑器(free Mac image editor)，例如 Pixelmator 或 GIMP。
What Is a Vector Image & How To Make & View One
Evеr zoomed in too far on а photо аnd seen it pixelate? Images created using a digital camera сan only appear at certain resolutions. Υou can decrease their size, but scaling them up can be tricky—you lose quality in thе process. These images (raster images) are perfect for selfies, but they need to be created with sizing in mind.
For scalable images, you’ll want to use a vector image, but what is a vector image? Logos, print designs, and more—these often lack set sizing. Vector images give you the ability to scale images like these up (or down) without losing any quality. Here’s everything you need to know about vector images, including how to make your own.
What Is a Vector Image?
A vector image is like a map—scalable, with distances between points A and B that remain in proportion, even if the overall image increases in size.
Vector images, in essence, are digital instructions for how an editor or viewer should create an image. This allows your device to generate the image with clear curves and lines that have no blur, no pixelation, and no image degradation.
Rather than the static, inflexible grid of pixels that you’ll see when you zoom in to a raster image file such as JPG or BMP, vector images are created digitally using set mathematical instructions. Thanks to the magic of mathematics, the same point between A and B on a vector image will remain in proportion.
If you’re a graphics designer, you’ll immediately understand the advantages that vector images offer you over raster images. Rather than having to worry about the resolution of your image before you begin, you can create your image with any size.
After that, it’s all about scale—vector images in formats like SVG can be made as small or as large as you like. That’s why vector image formats are usually best for art and design projects, especially if you’re creating a logo or a design you’re looking to print.
How To View Vector Images
Vector images aren’t an unusual image format. You should be able to open them in your web browser, or by using vector image software like Inkscape. Vector images will also open in standard image editors like Photoshop or dedicated graphics editors like Illustrator.
For most users, however, the easiest method is to use your browser. Most major web browsers support vector images. To open a vector image in Google Chrome, for instance, click File > Open File and select your vector image file. If it’s in a standard format like SVG, Chrome should generate the image and allow you to view it.
SVG images can also be opened in text editors like Notepad++, as SVG files are merely lines of XML code. You can edit your vector image design this way if you prefer. The image is then generated on the fly using the design specified in the file. This process is the same, whether you’re viewing it in a browser or image editor.
Other image file formats may work differently, however. Some document formats such as PDF are considered to be vector images but can be generated to contain other types of content, including raster images. These can also be opened in your web browser, but may also require a dedicated PDF reader to open instead.
Creating & Editing Vector Images In Inkscape
If you want to create or edit a vector image, you’ll need a suitable vector image editor. As we’ve mentioned, you could manually edit an SVG image file using a text editor, but this isn’t really practical for most users.
Vector image editors exist on all major platforms. Of these, two are considered to be the most well known—Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator. For beginners and amateurs, Inkscape is the best option. It’s a free, open-source vector image editor, available for Windows, Linux, and macOS users.
- To create a vector image in Inkscape, all you need to do is create a new file—SVG files are the default Inkscape file format. A new canvas will be created when you open Inkscape, but press File > New to create a new canvas manually.
- To open an image file in Inkscape, press File > Open.
- You can also create vector images by taking an existing bitmap image and tracing it to create a matching vector image in its place. To do this, press Path > Trace Bitmap.
- Select the Brightness cutoff setting here—you’ll need to tweak the Threshold figure to see how well this performs, but 0.500-1.000 is a good place to start. Press Update to see a preview.
- Inkscape can perform multiple scans to try and make the final vector image as accurate as possible. Set the number of scans under the Scans box and section, then press OK to begin the process.
Alternatives To Inkscape
While Inkscape is a great, free option for most users looking to create vector images, there are alternatives you should certainly consider.
One of the biggest is Adobe Illustrator, which is a professional, industry-standard graphic design tool for vector images. It requires a paid Adobe Creative Cloud subscription and is only available on Windows and macOS.
You can download a less powerful version of Illustrator on iPhone and iPad, but this will lack some of the premium features available to desktop users.
You can also edit or create new vector images online using services like Vectr, which offers a free, online editor for vector images. It isn’t as powerful as Inkscape or Illustrator, but it could help you to quickly create imaginative new designs.
Other Inkscape alternatives exist, too. For macOS users, Sketch is a good option, especially for UI designers. Sketch uses its own proprietary file format, but this is supported by Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator. Sketch isn’t free, but you can try it out with a 30-day free trial.
Using Image Editing Software
Thanks to free image editing software, it’s never been easier to create high-quality images on any platform. If you’re a mobile user, photo editing apps can turn your basic snaps into high-quality content suitable for your social media pages.
If you’re interested in design, you’ll want a high-quality vector image editor. You don’t need to spend a single dollar for this—Inkscape is open source and freely available on all platforms, including macOS. If you’re looking to edit raster images on Mac, you’ll need a free Mac image editor like Pixelmator or GIMP instead.
