Vector file is sometimes called a geometric file. Images created with tools such as Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw are in the form of vector image files. Vector graphic is a graphic image format which stores graphical information in the form of mathematical formulas. The geometric elements such as lines, curves, polygon, are being made use of, to represent images graphically in computer graphics. Specific coordinates within the file are coded as reference points, other information are recorded as line gradient and thickness are stored as formulas. The main advantage of using vector graphics is that it is scalable. This is due to the fact that editing does not involve pixels but mathematical calculations. Scalable vector graphics is used for describing 2D vector graphic, both static and dynamic. As the vector graphic files contain mathematical formulas, these formulas are used to create the perfect image on the screen with lines, colors, shapes that are stored as formulas.

The appropriate screen resolution is properly maintained by determining where the dots should be placed for best results. And these dots are determined by the formulas only. The quality of the image is determined by the resolution of the image. Vector graphics contain the information of the colors to be displayed in “bits”. For editing vector graphics images vector graphic drawing software is used. Vector images are not supported by all vector formats. So it will be safer to save image as a raster format. Conversion of a vector file to raster one is easy but the reverse includes tough job. SVG is the w3c standard for vector graphic.

Vector graphics play an essential role in allowing a user to spin, stretch; shift a combination of primitives into sophisticated objects. Presently CADD systems and animations software use vector graphics. These are also used by Postscript printers. Vector graphics editor allow the most sophisticated transformations. These are best for device independent simple drawings. While raster graphics are most ideal for color images having photo effects, the vector graphics are suitable for drawing images from scratch. For example, designing a logo or drawing a cartoon character.