Hey guys! So, I've seen many popular animation projects, and the drawings are very clear (not pixelated). I've heard that they use vector instead of bitmap. I've used bitmap to draw characters, but the drawings always turn out messy. What's the difference between vector and bitmap, and which would you recommend I should use and why?

Thank you so much!

For smooth pictures but a bit more complicated editor use Vector. If you save vector images to your computer they are .svg's. The vector editor can let you edit text, shapes and lines after you place them. As well as that, you can only fill shapes and shapes you make with lines (which are closed off.) However bitmap is more for pixel art and squares/rectanges, but it saves as a .png, a common file type. As well as that, I'm guessing that it makes your project run slightly faster.

So smoothness, complication and uncommon file type or pixely, not too complicated and common file type.

Vector is best for smooth lines and solid colors, but vector will not do photos.

So if you want a sprite of a real person or thing, use bitmap. If you want a sprite of a cartoon person or thing, use vector.

You can convert a vector to a bitmap.

You can put a bitmap inside a vector.

You can not convert a bitmap to a vector.

Bitmap is a lot more pixel-y than vector, whereas vector is very smooth. You can see this by zooming into vector lines and bitmap lines. Bitmap is easier to draw with but the end result isn't as neat and satisfying if you draw with bitmap. If you use vector, it takes longer but the result is neater and more attractive and likely to give a positive view for the project.

I recommend using vector, although the choice is yours. I normally use the circle tool on vector to form a circle, then use the reshape tool to reshape the circle and make it look like I actually drew it instead of reshaping it. I find the reshape method a lot easier, and I think a lot of people would agree.

If you have drawn a picture in vector and you are happy with it, be very careful as if you accidentally press “convert to bitmap” the picture will turn pixel-y, as if it was drawn in bitmap in the first place. This is an irreversible change.

Good luck with your animations/drawings!!

bitmap is actually more easier than vector but it isn't the the smoothest/prettiest unless you know how to do pixel art, it has very simple stuff unlike vector.
vector has higher quality and doesn't lose quality while zooming in,it has more ui so that you can edit shapes without erasing them unlike bitmap
it also has a downside, they can also have vector editing glitches which can be very annoying (but it's very rare).
vector editing can take some practice seen that it's quite advanced…

Vector is not as difficult as many people think. You just have to get used to the method. Once you do, you will find that for animation purposes, vector is MUCH faster than bitmap.

HINT: When you want to draw something in vector, think of it as composed of parts, like head, body, two arms, two legs, and then start each part as a circle and stretch the circle into the shape you want. Then fill it with color.

footsocktoe wrote:

Vector is not as difficult as many people think. You just have to get used to the method. Once you do, you will find that for animation purposes, vector is MUCH faster than bitmap.

HINT: When you want to draw something in vector, think of it as composed of parts, like head, body, two arms, two legs, and then start each part as a circle and stretch the circle into the shape you want. Then fill it with color.

But how can you animate with Vector without an eraser tool?

Here are a couple links to help you out: This one has only tips, not a full explanation, though it does explain a few things. This one is a better explanation, although to figure out everything with vector, you just need to mess around with it for a bit.

Hope this helps!

AquaHawk wrote:

But how can you animate with Vector without an eraser tool?

Why do you need an eraser tool to animate? Just reshape the image so it looks different from the original. The reshape tool looks like a curved line with a mouse pointer on it.

AquaHawk wrote:

footsocktoe wrote:

Vector is not as difficult as many people think. You just have to get used to the method. Once you do, you will find that for animation purposes, vector is MUCH faster than bitmap.

HINT: When you want to draw something in vector, think of it as composed of parts, like head, body, two arms, two legs, and then start each part as a circle and stretch the circle into the shape you want. Then fill it with color.

But how can you animate with Vector without an eraser tool?

Vector uses a different work method. In vector you do not erase Mickey's arm and draw a new one. Instead, you reshape Micky's arms by using the control points.

Control points are not fixed. They can be added and deleted quickly and easily. Then you just drag them. Trust me, once you know how to do vector drawing it is over twice as fast as bit map animation.

I just released a project filled with vector animations. It is https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/103086685/

Vector is best for smooth lines and solid colors, but vector will not do photos. So if you want a sprite of a real person or thing, use bitmap. If you want a sprite of a cartoon person or thing, use vector. Also, bitmap is harder to use.

Comicfan

I accidentally changed a picture that I was drawing for an animation from vector to bitmap. I changed it back, but now everything is like it is grouped. How do I change it back into vector? Help!!!

NalatheBalla wrote:

I accidentally changed a picture that I was drawing for an animation from vector to bitmap. I changed it back, but now everything is like it is grouped. How do I change it back into vector? Help!!!

The answer is to use undo button.It is the only way.
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