Select the class located at the center of each pixel location when converting from vector to raster. This will tend to maintain smaller features and will preserve overall area statistics. However, this method in no way guarantees that the label of a specific pixel corresponds to the predominant class at that location. Use line generalization functions in the GIS after converting a raster file to a vector data structure. This will reduce unnecessary points, but may also distort shapes in undesirable ways if not used with caution.
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