This is simply an overview and by no means contains all the formats or intricate details of computer image files. Raster and vector are distinctly different while metafiles can be a combination of the two. Metafiles are often classified as vector. Raster graphics draw an image as an array of colored dots called pixels . When editing a raster image it is the pixels you re actually working with.
Pixels have color depth called bits .
Raster images are also called bitmaps . Most of the image formats listed below are bitmaps. Vector graphics draw an image as lines, polygons and text. In general, vector graphics take longer to display but can be scaled to any size with no degradation. Raster graphics are faster to display but image quality suffers when they are scaled up or down.