Hello. I am working with a vector graphic for the first time in photoshop elements 7. I know that you can make vectors graphics as big or as small as you want and not affect the quality of the image. When I go to resize it though it is displaying pixels. Can I ignore that info since there are no pixles to work with? For example, the vector graphic I am working with is set to 10 x 10 inches, when I go to resize it it tells me that the image is 720 pixles x 720 pixels. Cafe press needs 2000 x 2000. Does that ever matter with vectors? When using vectors Can you just work with the right inches when preparing for product placement and know it will be printed properly on your stuff? Thanks all!
Okay, I think I can help here, but I'm not 100% about this. I use both Photoshop and Illustrator. From what I understand, Photoshop doesn't work directly with vector graphics. I mean that to say that custom shapes are vectors when created as paths that can be resized before they are rasterized, but when it comes to importing an already made graphic file, like an .eps, you have to choose the size you want it to be on import in photoshop, and once you've done that, it is that size. For example, I might open an .eps file that says it's 200 pixels x 200 pixels at 72 dpi, but I want it to be 3000 x 3000 at 200 dpi so I enter that info in the box that pops up on import and after that my image is 3000 x 3000 and anything I do to it, like re-sizing, is the same as it would be with anything else. (I'm not sure if the import works the same in elements, but when opening an .eps file I always get the option to choose the size.) For something to be a true vector image it would have to be in paths rather than pixels (I think? lol) and once you bring it into photoshop it's in pixels.
So to finally answer your question no, you shouldn't ignore the pixel size in element. What it's telling you is what it is. It sounds like your image is 10 x 10 at 72 dpi. If you can, I would reimport it and set the dpi to 200. Hopefully, if I've made a mess of this explanation someone much smarter will come in and help you out!
I guess I don't get it. There are no pixles to work with with vector, right? So can't I work with and worry about inches instead of pixels when resizing? When I open the file in elements it asks me what sixe. So I pick 10 inches by 10 inches to star with. Then I need to make the same image different sizes. So cant i just use inches when resizing vectors and forget about the pixels?
I don't think so. A vector is paths, which is why it can be made any size, but once you choose a size in photoshop, it's not paths anymore. So it's technically no longer a vector. It is whatever size in pixels that you chose. Photoshop doesn't really work with vectors. When you pick the size, you should also make sure the dpi is at least 200. If you want to resize for different sized graphics, without losing much quality, my suggestion would be to start by choosing the largest size image you'll need. If you need it to be bigger than 10 x 10 inches, import it that way rather than sizing up.
Also, for the most part, inches don't matter, pixels do. It's how many pixels in an image that decide how big it will appear when printed, not what it's stated as in inches. That's why I suggested you choose your image to be at least 200 dpi rather than 72 when importing. Tanith does the math on this kind of thing much better than I do, and I know she has some info on this on her site too. I would check there for her explantions on pixels and image size.
Ok so when I open the file and it asks me to choose the size, should I just do that over and over to get all the sizes of the image I need for the different products? Or should I import it HUGE and then keep sizing down? Also is there any way not to rasterize the image when opening?
So if I am using an application like Inkspace that keeps the graphic a vector then there is never any pixels to work with. So when preparing the image sizes for cafepress then I only need to worry about inches, right?
I'm not familiar with Inkspace, but you will still need to worry about pixels when you save the image. I don't know if you're using the vector image as is or using it to create an image. If you're using it as part of another image, and have to open up the blank file to start designing, you will be asked to choose a size for that, and pixels will matter there. When you save the final image to png it won't be a vector anymore and pixels will matter.
To me, Photoshop is like painting with sand. You have to place the pixels/sand where you want them and if you zoom in they look bigger. [Raster graphics]
Illustrator ($$$) and Inkscape (free) work with paths or descriptions of objects. When you zoom in it is still smooth or sharp. [Vector graphics]
Photoshop ($$$, or GIMP=free) can open Vector graphics but they turn those smooth paths into a 'mosaic' of dots. No more vectors. That's why you need to increase the dpi, to keep the lines as smooth as possible. But when you adjust the dpi to CafePress's standards you loose some of the sharpness of the original vector.
Illustrator and Inkscape can open Raster graphics but they are like laminated 'photocopies'. You have to rework them to get the image as a vector graphic. Or just leave them as part of the new image.
I have been doing a lot of my recent designs in Inkscape. I set the page at 12 x 12 inches and export it as a 200-300 dpi PNG (and a transparent background is default).
But when you adjust the dpi to CafePress's standards you loose some of the sharpness of the original vector.
The best practice is to open the vector file the correct size. Then you don't have to adjust the dpi and you won't lose any sharpness. If you open large enough in pixels you should have no problem with the quality of a vector image getting translated into a raster image.
Vector graphics are mathematical equations. Right click on one and open it with Notepad or some other text editor.
Working in Inkscape or other vector drawing software, you're basically using an art interface to write a long math equation. Size doesn't matter at all. When size becomes important is when you export your .SVG or .EPS vector file to .PNG format.
Working in Inkscape or other vector drawing software, you're basically using an art interface to write a long math equation. Size doesn't matter at all. When size becomes important is when you export your .SVG or .EPS vector file to .PNG format.
Right - but only when actually working in the vector application. If instead you are importing a vector image into a raster application such as Photoshop then size when you open it is critical. Which is getting back to the original issue
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I am working with a vector graphic for the first time in photoshop elements 7.
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