An Ultimate Guide to Vector Line Art
Vector line art has taken over the Internet in recent years, notably in web design. Besides being trendy and appealing, line art vector graphics are also very practical. Unlike traditional artworks, you can scale vectors to any size while enjoying impeccable picture quality. That’s what makes them an ideal medium for print and digital projects that require the creation of scalable graphics, such as logos, illustrations, infographics, banners, and billboards.
If you want to discover other unique capabilities of vector line art, as well as areas where it can be used, this guide is for you! Here, you’ll learn everything about vector graphics and find the best website for both free and paid vector images. Keep on reading!
What are vector lines?
To understand what vector lines are, let’s first understand what vector graphics are. Vector graphics are digital images created directly from geometric shapes, such as points, lines, curves, and polygons, and are defined by mathematical formulas. Vector lines, often known as “paths”, are created by connecting two or more points that indicate a line’s start and end points. They may also be inserted along the line if your line will change directions or curve.
What is vector line art?
Vector line art is a two-dimensional art piece made using math-based vector graphics. It is often created in a monochromatic color palette, but illustrators can also add many bright colors to draw viewer attention.
How vector images work in different areas
Today, vectors are used in many fields, from digital artwork and graphic design to animation and 3D graphics. Let’s analyze each area in more detail.
Art
Every piece of art created by a designer or illustrator is made up of lines. However, vector-based images, unlike raster graphics, allow both creators and viewers to see intricate details and complicated linework. Vector artwork is also more suitable for collaborative work because it is easy to share and modify. That’s why vector art is often used for marketing collateral, mobile applications, and web designs.
Graphic design
Visuals with built-in mathematical equations are perfect for graphic designers who often create advertising, branding, and marketing materials. Math-based graphics allow each element to scale proportionally and naturally, eliminating the need to adjust each visual to fit a project’s needs. With the help of vectors, graphic designers create layouts, typography, graphics, web designs, logos, and other print and digital visual assets.
Animation
2D vector animation is commonly used to create anime and cartoons, but it may also be utilized for marketing purposes. Some 2D animations nowadays can contain raster graphics, which are made up of pixels. However, most creators use vector-based illustrations for animations because they scale better and provide a cleaner, smoother picture. Plus, vectors are lightweight, which means they can save a lot of hard drive space, especially when creating big media files.
3D graphics
When creating 3D graphics, it is impossible to do so without vectors. Three-dimensional images consist of the lines, curves, and shapes the same way vector graphics do. Therefore, 3D visuals are mostly vector-based, but creators also put raster-based textures on them.
Where do I find ready-made line art graphics?
To facilitate work and meet deadlines, many graphic designers use ready-made vector graphics to either change or incorporate them into existing artwork or creative concepts. Where do they find them? Let’s find out below.
Depositphotos platform for free and paid vector line art
Depositphotos is an international stock content platform with millions of royalty-free creative assets, including vectors, illustrations, photos, videos, and music. Vector graphics are available in EPS format, which is easily modifiable and scalable to any size. However, you will need vector editing software to work with these files.
On Depositphotos, creators can use advanced search filters and AI-powered features to find a needed picture. Alternatively, you can browse rich collections of vector images handpicked by professionals on various topics, such as people, animals, cartoons, nature, business, abstract graphics, and more. They contain both free and paid visuals. You can find free files in the general search by using a filter or browsing the free file collection. All files on Depositphotos can be used for commercial, creative, and personal purposes; however, free files require attribution.
Visit depositphotos.com/stock-vectors.html to find high-quality stock vector graphics for your next personal project, marketing campaign, or creative concept.
What is the best software to create vector art?
Whether you want to create your own vector graphics or work with existing visuals, you’ll need vector-based software. Below are the best and most popular options of vector graphics software.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is one of the most popular programs for creating and editing vector graphics with its own vector file format called AI. It is a subscription-based software available in Adobe Creative Cloud, and you can use it with Photoshop and InDesign.
CorelDRAW
CorelDRAW is an intuitive graphic software suitable for both beginner and seasoned designers. It is part of the CorelDRAW graphics suite, which also includes the Corel Photo-Paint program. CorelDRAW is available as a one-time purchase or as a yearly subscription.
Inkscape
Inkscape is a user-friendly software with basic functionality available as a free and open-source vector graphics editor. It’s an excellent choice for those just starting out in design, since it allows them to hone their skills without investing in costly software.
Conclusion
Regardless of a graphic artist’s professional path, knowing the specifics of vector art may benefit many design areas. Use this guide as a starting point for your vector-drawing journey and enjoy the results in your personal and business projects.