Anchor Point
A point on a vector path that defines where the path changes direction. Anchor points can be connected by straight lines or curves and can be manipulated to reshape the path.
Anti-aliasing
A technique used to smooth the jagged edges of diagonal lines and curves in digital graphics by adding semi-transparent pixels along the edges.
Artboard
A defined workspace or canvas area in vector design software where artwork is created. Multiple artboards can exist in a single document.
Bezier Curve
A mathematically defined curve used in vector graphics, controlled by anchor points and handles. Named after French engineer Pierre Bezier, these curves form the basis of most vector illustrations.
Bitmap
A type of image composed of a grid of pixels, where each pixel contains color information. Also known as raster graphics. Common formats include PNG, JPG, and BMP.
Blend Mode
A setting that determines how colors on overlapping layers or objects interact with each other. Common modes include multiply, screen, and overlay.
Clipping Path
A vector path used to define which parts of an image or object are visible. Content outside the clipping path is hidden but not deleted.
CMYK
A color model used for print production, consisting of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). These four inks combine to create a wide range of colors on printed materials.
Compound Path
Two or more paths combined to act as a single path, allowing for complex shapes with holes or multiple disconnected parts.
Control Point
See Handle. A point that controls the direction and curvature of a Bezier curve without being on the curve itself.
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
A measure of print resolution indicating how many ink dots are placed within a one-inch line. Higher DPI results in sharper printed images. Standard print resolution is 300 DPI.
DXF (Drawing Exchange Format)
A CAD file format developed by Autodesk for exchanging drawings between different software. Commonly used for laser cutting and CNC machining.
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
A vector file format that can contain both vector and raster elements. Widely used in professional printing and graphic design workflows.
Export
The process of saving or converting a file to a different format for use in other applications or purposes.
Fill
The color, gradient, or pattern applied to the interior area of a vector shape. Fills can be solid colors, gradients, or complex patterns.
Flatten
The process of merging all layers in a design into a single layer, often done before final export or when converting to certain formats.
Gradient
A smooth transition between two or more colors. Linear gradients transition in a straight line, while radial gradients transition from a center point outward.
Glyph
A single character or symbol in a font, including letters, numbers, punctuation, and special characters.
Group
Multiple objects combined together so they can be moved, scaled, or transformed as a single unit while maintaining their individual properties.
Handle
Control points that extend from anchor points on Bezier curves, determining the direction and curvature of the path segment.
Hex Code
A six-character code representing a color in RGB format, commonly used in web design. For example, #FF0000 represents pure red.
Illustrator (Adobe)
Professional vector graphics software developed by Adobe, widely used for creating logos, illustrations, and print materials.
Image Trace
A feature in vector software that automatically converts raster images into vector paths. Quality varies based on source image and settings.
Join
The style of corner where two path segments meet. Common join types include miter (pointed), round, and bevel (flat).
JPG/JPEG
A lossy raster image format commonly used for photographs. Not suitable for graphics with sharp edges or text due to compression artifacts.
Kerning
The adjustment of space between individual letter pairs in typography to achieve visually pleasing and readable text.
Knockout
An area where underlying colors are removed to prevent color mixing when printing. Important for accurate color reproduction in print.
Layer
A level in a design document that contains objects separately from other levels, allowing for organized editing and effects application.
Leading
The vertical space between lines of text, measured from baseline to baseline. Named after the lead strips used in traditional typesetting.
Live Trace
See Image Trace. Adobe Illustrator feature for converting raster images to vector paths.
Mask
A shape or image used to hide parts of another object. Similar to clipping paths but can include transparency and gradients.
Mesh Gradient
A type of gradient that allows multiple colors to blend across a grid of points, creating complex color transitions within a single shape.
Node
See Anchor Point. A point on a vector path where the direction or curve changes.
Opacity
The degree to which an object is transparent. 100% opacity is fully opaque, while 0% is completely transparent.
Outline
Converting text or strokes to editable vector paths, or the visible edge of a shape. Essential for ensuring fonts display correctly when shared.
Path
The fundamental element of vector graphics - a line defined by anchor points connected by straight or curved segments. Paths can be open or closed.
PDF (Portable Document Format)
A file format that can contain both vector and raster elements, preserving formatting across different devices and software. Widely used for print and document sharing.
Pixel
The smallest unit of a raster image. A single point of color that, combined with thousands or millions of others, forms a complete image.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
A lossless raster image format that supports transparency. Ideal for web graphics, logos, and images requiring sharp edges.
PPI (Pixels Per Inch)
A measure of screen or image resolution indicating pixel density. Higher PPI results in sharper digital displays.
Raster
A type of digital image composed of a grid of pixels. Raster images lose quality when scaled up, unlike vector graphics.
Resolution
The amount of detail in an image, typically measured in DPI (print) or PPI (screen). Vector graphics are resolution-independent.
RGB
A color model using Red, Green, and Blue light to create colors. Used for digital displays. Each channel ranges from 0-255.
Scalable
The ability to resize without losing quality. Vector graphics are infinitely scalable because they are defined by mathematical equations, not pixels.
Stroke
The visible outline or border of a path. Strokes have properties including width, color, dash patterns, and cap/join styles.
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
An XML-based vector image format for the web. SVGs are resolution-independent, can be styled with CSS, and animated with JavaScript.
Trace
The process of converting a raster image to vector paths, either manually by drawing over the image or automatically using software.
Tracking
The uniform adjustment of space between all characters in a block of text, unlike kerning which adjusts specific letter pairs.
Transform
Operations that change the position, size, rotation, or shape of an object, including move, scale, rotate, skew, and reflect.
Transparency
The quality of being see-through. In vector graphics, transparency allows underlying objects to show through.
Vector
Graphics defined by mathematical equations describing points, lines, curves, and shapes. Vectors can be scaled infinitely without quality loss.
Vectorization
The process of converting raster images into vector format. Can be done manually, automatically with software, or using AI-powered tools like VectoSolve.
Viewport
In SVG, the visible area of the graphic. The viewport defines what portion of the SVG content is displayed.
ViewBox
An SVG attribute that defines the coordinate system and aspect ratio of the graphic, allowing SVGs to scale responsively.
Weight (Stroke)
The thickness of a stroke, typically measured in points or pixels.
WebP
A modern raster image format developed by Google that provides superior compression for web images. Supports both lossy and lossless compression.
XML
Extensible Markup Language, the text-based format used to define SVG files. XML uses tags and attributes to structure data.
Z-Index
The stacking order of elements, determining which objects appear in front of or behind others. Higher z-index values appear on top.
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