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When it comes to creating and manipulating images for web or print, vector art is a great choice. Vector art is made up of paths and shapes, which can be easily and infinitely scaled without losing quality. When it comes to converting vector art, there are two popular file formats – SVG and PNG. While both file formats are great for vector art conversion, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. SVG files are smaller, more versatile and can be animated, while PNG files can support more colors, provide better support for transparency, and are more compatible with older browsers. In this article, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of each file format and discuss which is the better choice for vector art conversion.

Overview of SVG and PNG File Formats

SVG, or Scalable Vector Graphics, and PNG, or Portable Network Graphics, are two file formats for storing images that are often used for vector art. Compared to other image formats, such as JPEG and GIF, these file types provide specific features that are ideal for vector art manipulation. SVG images can contain any type of content, including text, images, and geometric shapes. A major advantage of SVG is that you can edit the image’s code and have those edits reflected in the image. This makes SVG a great choice for logos or other complex images. PNG files are primarily used for images that include large amounts of color. PNGs are known for their ability to maintain high quality while using large color palettes. Additionally, PNGs are often used to create images that will have transparent backgrounds.

Pros and Cons of SVG vs. PNG

Now that we know a little bit about each file format, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of SVG and PNG for vector art conversion. To give you an idea of how these file formats compare, we’ve given each an overall score out of 5 in five categories – Compression, File Size, Compatibility, Transparency, and Color Depth. The resulting score represents the file format’s general strengths and weaknesses. For the complete breakdown, and to decide which file format is better for your project, check out the table below.

Compression

Let’s start with compression. SVG files are typically converted from another source, such as an Adobe Illustrator file, so they are always going to be larger than PNG files. PNG files are a bitmap format, which means they are made up of pixels, so their file sizes are smaller than SVG images. However, for most projects, the difference in file size is negligible. SVG files tend to be smaller when converted from a vector image, so if you’re looking for a smaller file size, convert your vector art to an image first, then use the image file for conversion.

File Size

Unlike PNG files, SVG files don’t have a set maximum color palette. This means that the image you’re converting will have a specific number of colors based on the complexity of the image. The fewer colors an image has, the smaller the file size. For the best file size, try to keep your image’s color palette low. Keep in mind that PNG files can also be optimized to reduce file size. You can do this by reducing the image’s pixel size. When you reduce the pixel size, you’re essentially making the image smaller. It’s important to note that this will also reduce the image’s resolution – a factor that we’ll discuss next.

Compatibility

For vector art conversion, SVG files are more compatible with older browsers than PNG files. PNG files require a PNG filter to support transparency, which means that most older browsers won’t be able to view the image correctly. SVG’s support for transparency means that it’s compatible with a much wider range of browsers. However, for maximum compatibility, use a modern browser such as Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Transparency

For SVG files, the level of transparency can be controlled by adjusting the file’s code. With PNG files, the level of transparency can be adjusted through the image’s settings. PNG images allow you to specify how transparent the image is. This can be done using a scale from 0 to 100%, with 0% being fully transparent and 100% being fully opaque.

Color Depth

SVG files support an unlimited number of colors, whereas PNG files support 16 million colors. However, for most projects, 16 million colors are more than enough. For projects that require a specific color palette, you can adjust the level of color depth for PNG files by reducing the number of colors in the palette. For SVG files, you can reduce the color depth by converting the image from vector art to an image.

Benefits of SVG for Vector Art Conversion

SVG files are smaller, more compatible with older browsers, and can be edited. SVG files are smaller because they’re converted from a vector image, which means they don’t have to be reduced in size to achieve a smaller file size. Additionally, SVG files are compatible with a wider range of browsers because they support transparency. SVG files can be edited by adjusting their code, which provides more flexibility when it comes to editing and manipulation. If you’re converting an image to an SVG file, you can’t edit the image’s pixels, which means you can’t adjust the image’s color palette.

Benefits of PNG for Vector Art Conversion

PNG files are more compatible with modern browsers and can be used with large color palettes. PNG files can be used with large color palettes, which makes them ideal for projects that use a lot of colors. PNG files are more compatible with modern browsers because they don’t require a PNG filter to support transparency. This makes PNG files more compatible with older browsers as well.

Best Practices for Vector Art Conversion

Now that we’ve gone over the advantages and disadvantages of SVG and PNG for vector art conversion, let’s talk about best practices when converting vector art to an image. There are a few different ways to convert an image, but the best methods depend on the file format you’re converting to. To convert a vector image to an PNG file, you can either use a built-in PNG feature on an image editor or convert it using a third-party online converter. For SVG conversion, you can use an online converter or an image editor. For the best results, make sure to start the conversion process as early as possible. Converting images at the beginning of your design process can help you make design decisions more quickly. If you wait until the end, there’s a good chance you’ll change your mind and have to start the process all over again.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve taken a look at the pros and cons of SVG and PNG for vector art conversion. While both file formats are great for vector art conversion, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. SVG files are smaller, more compatible with older browsers, and can be edited, whereas PNG files are more compatible with large color palettes and can be used with transparency. For the best vector art conversion, start the conversion process early to ensure that you get the most out of each file format.