//02 Vectors Vexels and You

Lately I have seen a growing number of people using the term Vector, or Vexel without understand it.


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.

That being said, if you make something in Illustrator, or flash, or the other vector programs, when you save the file as the programs file type (.AI, .SVG etc) it preserves the points, and thus it produces the image based on mathematical equations, this is how they can be displayed at any resolution without any loss.


Vexel is a neologism for an entirely pixel-based form of raster art that imitates the visual appearance of vector graphics technique (i.e. sharp-edged lines and areas of flat colour or smooth gradient fills). The word itself is a portmanteau derived from a combination of "vector" and "pixel."

This is saying that you imitate the look of a vector image, but making it within a raster program, like Photoshop, or GIMP. What this is talking about, is the images that you see with layered shading, cell shading, flat colours, or simple gradients. When you add brushes, or anything else, it ceases to be a vexel, as you are straying from that style.


"Vector brushes" are actually vexel brushes. Those simple geometric shapes are not vectors, but made to imitate vectors, and thus are a vexels, but when added with things like stocks, abstract 3D images, the result is not a vexel either. Also, when you start adding stock textures to a picture, even if it was made using photoshops pentool, it is no longer a vector, or vexel

This whole thread is probably just because I made a thread called "Naruto Vector"..

No, I was planning to write this up for a few days, it is just especially after takkens comments, I felt I needed to post it sooner than later.

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Originally Posted by Pet

Those simple geometric shapes are not vectors, but made to imitate vectors, and thus are a vector.

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So they aren't a vector, but they imitate a vector, so they are a vector... ??

Thanks for that, I meant Vexel.

This whole discussion started at the Void like a year ago, so no harm done Morph ;)

Pet started a pen tool revolution, he's actualy the caus of me starting to use AI. Were scared of it before.

I'm still a Vexel guy, haven't taken that big step and let go of PS pen tool yet, don't feel 100% comfy with AI yet ^u^

TY Pet for putting this information down! It's really helpful and does clearsome stuff up for me :D

Great work Petimus ^^

This should be a helpful thread, that way terms won't be mis-used as much. Good one Pet.

You think you should put up a definition for vections though? A certain group on DA uses it though it isn't really 'recognized'.

Next thread: The difference between renders and stocks.

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Originally Posted by Takken

This should be a helpful thread, that way terms won't be mis-used as much. Good one Pet.

You think you should put up a definition for vections though? A certain group on DA uses it though it isn't really 'recognized'.

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The only times I see "vection" on deviantART is the title of a picture, or in the description of a few, which they meant to put vexel. I think some people mistakenly put it on their art. The only definition I know of, relates to the feeling of movement with pure visual stimulus. Such as 3D movies, watching a moving train pass from a stationary one etc.

Very helpful thread Pet. I'm still trying to get vectors down, vexels in Photoshop are easier though.

I found this video on deviantart, and I figured I should post it here.
http://lucky13.deviantart.com/art/Ve...vealed-8818843
It disproves the myth that photoshop can't create vector images.

If you don't want to listen to the guy, he basically opens up a psd of an eye vector made with the pentool, shows that photoshop can't zoom in and out without distorting it, but it can resize the image without distorting it. He saves it as an .eps file to save the vector data, and when you open it in illustrator, all your anchor points from photoshop are preserved.

I'm not saying photoshop is better for vectors or anything, but I thought the video did a good job of clearing up the common misconception that photoshop only creates vexels, and illustrator is for vectors.

Yes Hoshi, Photoshop can create vectors, but you HAVE to preserve the shape/path layers, an it is quite limited in what it can do.

Good find.

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Originally Posted by Pet

Yes Hoshi, Photoshop can create vectors, but you HAVE to preserve the shape/path layers, an it is quite limited in what it can do.

Good find.

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I know it's limited and all, but in your description it didn't say Photoshop could create vectors. I just assumed that it couldn't because I didn't know it was capable of saving vector data at all. Based on some of the comments some people were probably thinking the same thing.

I thought it was a neat little tidbit ^^

I didn't want to include it because of the fact that Photoshop is still designed to be a raster program, though it has a little vector tools, and Illustrator a vector program, although it has some raster tools.

I would rather people not get the wrong impression, and how many people would go through all the steps of preserving the layers, saving as .eps just so that they are garenteed it is a vector... not many.

But, I myself started out using the photoshop tool, and very soon after moved to Illustrator, and glad I did.

I wasn't endorsing the use of photoshop for vectors, just thought it was neat that you actually could do it. I wasn't accusing you of not including it or anything Pet, really. ^^;

<3

so (if I read this well) .AI-files are vector-files, right?

how do I implement .AI-files in photoshop?

Well, what I do is just right-click the Ai, go to Open With and scroll down to Photoshop and wa-la. Its there. However you have to save it as a PDF Compatible File, I think.

PDFs are compatible with Ai. Though PS isn't friendly with Ai.

Okay, i am really confused about what vector art really looks like, could someone show me an example?

Just keep refreshing my sig, any picture, other than the claro are vectors. Vector itself is a file format, and I haven't been saving mine as .svg to fully show the vectors because the web can't handle them fully, not to mention the different browsers. The main thing I wanted to get across is, if you use simple geometric shaEd in a tag, it isn't a vector, or even a vexel. If you would like to see a true vector saved in a web vector format, I will save 1 of my pictures as svg when I get home.

I think i get it now, you are making stuff with just simple colors, like your sig, you made with just black pink and white, and you make all of the shapes yourself. . .i think? Also that looks really hard.

Yes, it is all done by me, using illustrator, that way I can zoom in and out and keep the nice crisp lines. Although, you can get some fairly realistic colouring, I prefer to keep the step shading method. Also, I am not sure if it is really hard, but they do require Patience.

Patience is something that's hard to come by. Pet has tons of it
:D

Okies, but what is the point? I think people get that vexels aren't vectors and victors aren't vixels. But since you would have to guess if someone made something as a vector or if it's a vexel, or a victor. I don't get the reason for the frustration. O.o

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Originally Posted by littlefeet

Okies, but what is the point? I think people get that vexels aren't vectors and victors aren't vixels. But since you would have to guess if someone made something as a vector or if it's a vexel, or a victor. I don't get the reason for the frustration. O.o

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To someone that this is all just a little hobby, it may not seem like a big deal, but to those working towards entering the field of graphic design, terminology is necessary. About a year ago, the topic on "renders" got out of hand. It seems everyone calls any picture that has the background cut out a render, or how all 3D abstracts are called C4Ds. Rendering is the process of creating the image, usually for 3D programs, and adding textures. C4D is the name of the program most people use to create those 3D abstracts. Now, I am a vector artist, and I want people to use vector correctly, rather than just throw it out there because they threw in some geometric shapes into their art. This site is about learning, so learning the correct terms only seems proper to me, we teach how to use the programs, tools and techniques, why not what different things are called as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pet

To someone that this is all just a little hobby, it may not seem like a big deal, but to those working towards entering the field of graphic design, terminology is necessary. About a year ago, the topic on "renders" got out of hand. It seems everyone calls any picture that has the background cut out a render, or how all 3D abstracts are called C4Ds. Rendering is the process of creating the image, usually for 3D programs, and adding textures. C4D is the name of the program most people use to create those 3D abstracts. Now, I am a vector artist, and I want people to use vector correctly, rather than just throw it out there because they threw in some geometric shapes into their art. This site is about learning, so learning the correct terms only seems proper to me, we teach how to use the programs, tools and techniques, why not what different things are called as well.

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Sad thing is, most people who are into this sort of thing consider this a hobby. As much as I would like to get into graphic design as a career, I figure I won't be making too much in that field. Hopefully somewhere down the road I can work on getting my masters in Advertising/Graphic Design, but right now I'm stuck with History as a major and I hope that'll be enough to live off of. Graphic design is such a slippery profession. The guarantee I'll get a job just isn't there.

That said, the terms "renders" and "C4Ds" have been around longer than I've been involved in this (for now I'll call it a) "hobby." And I'll continue calling them as such. I know the terminology is wrong, but like all slang, it's hard to shake. Down here in Texas most people call sodas "coke." Doesn't matter what we're drinking, it's called coke. Now, I know that my Pepsi or Dr. Pepper isn't really coke, but that's just what we call it. Now, I'm quite sure the execs of Pepsi Co. don't like that I call their product coke. And I know that's the point you're trying to make with this thread.

I'll finish out by saying excellent thread. The terms vector and vexel are thrown around very loosely. Honestly, I didn't even bother with the style just because I had no idea what the hell it was really called. And I didn't want to make a fool of myself by mislabeling my own work. So thanks!