Vector Art - What Are the Different Formats?

There are several different file formats used by different vector applications to store vector images. These include.

SVG - Scalable Vector Graphics - which is very common and universal format which is often used as a go between between applications and their proprietary formats.

CGM - Computer Graphics Metafile - is a file format for 2D vector graphics. All graphical elements can be specified in a textual source file that can be compiled into a binary file or one of two text representations. CGM provides a means of graphics data interchange for computer representation of 2D graphical information independent from any particular application, system, platform, or device.

PDF - Used by Adobe acrobat reader also stores information in a vector format.

EPS - Encapsulated PostScript is used by Adobe illustrator, however illustrator uses a different file extension, AI.

Recent versions of the AI file format, including the PDF-based formats and recent EPS formats, are based on a native format called PGF that is unrelated to both EPS and PDF. PDF compatibility is achieved not by extending the PDF format, but by embedding a complete copy of the native PGF data within the PDF file. The same kind of "dual path" approach is also used when recent versions of Illustrator are saving EPS-compatible files.

Adobe Illustrator is not the only program that can edit .ai files. Both Inkscape (a GPL licensed program) and CorelDRAW (another Proprietary program) can natively edit this file format.

The SWF Adobe's file format, is also a vector-based container to store animation.

Vector Image Applications

Vector graphics editors typically allow rotation, movement, mirroring, stretching, skewing, affine transformations, changing of z-order and combination of primitives into more complex objects.To create Vector Images images you will need an application such as Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand, Coral Draw, or the free open-source alternative Inkscape.

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