You will have to use the New Layer Palette , as PSP 6 creates a Vector layer whenever you use one of the above tools. The difference Raster graphics is what PSP has been using in its previous version. It uses rows of pixels to make an image. This is the method used by .gif, .jpg and many other graphics formats. Your monitor and your printer also use raster graphics.
Vector graphics use mathematical descriptions instead of pixels.
This allows the modification of the images without any loss of resolution. Vector tools give you much more control over your drawing by the addition of nodes that can be added, edited, dragged around, to modify your drawing. When you are satisfied with your drawing element, you can rasterise it, meaning convert it to raster graphics. The text tool is the only one of the 4 tools above that allows you to work with either vector or raster text. You can see both version in the title of this page.