Vexel

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Difference between a Vexel and a Vector. Both are created using Adobe Photoshop, with the pen tool although the vector is made using the shape layer function of the pen tool whereas the vexel is based on raster layers.

A vexel is an entirely pixel-based raster image that imitates the vector graphics style. The word derives from a combination of "vector" and "pixel".[1]

Colloquially, vexels are vector-like images created in a raster-based graphics program (such as Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro or the GIMP), that imitates the style of vector graphic images, although the increased flexibility of raster lines over a vector-plotted approach gives vexel images a unique appearance when compared with traditional rasterized vector graphics.

It should be noted that some raster graphics programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro can produce vector-like images using a pen or lasso tool. Such images are referred to as vexel images, unless it involves the use of shape layers. However, programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Freehand or Xara Xtreme produce true vectors.

A vexel is characterized by crisp, clean color and lines (that look nearly vector-graphics style) but is entirely pixel-based (picture); and a variety of levels, from 2-color outlines to pseudo-realism. A vexel does not use paintbrushes, airbrushes or a freehand tool such as pencil.

Vexels are also commonly used to restore the look of a vehicle.

Most vexels are also based on photographs.

The popularity of vexels stems from the fact that traced vexel requires no drawing ability to create good-looking images. Also, with the advent of the Internet, 300 dpi is no longer considered a must in amateur digital art. 72 dpi is considered sufficient for most vexels, since it will not appear in print in most cases. Indeed, since most vexels are tracings, printed versions would likely constitute copyright infringement, unless the use of the image fell under fair use (in the United States).

While "vexel" is used and accepted in a relatively narrow, self-described "vexel" community, the art and general worlds have not embraced it as warmly, mostly because it refers to a very small body of work and because of the workflow by which most vexel art is created.

The term "vexel" was created by Seth Woolley while he was a technical contributor to the now defunct but once popular teen message board Nova Boards to give it a distinctive name from traditional vector graphics.[2]

[edit] Criticisms

Since posterized raster images based on photos are inarguably tracings of photographs, they do not require drawing ability to create, while they yield drawn, but somewhat photorealistic images. The lower threshold of accessibility to this art form has been a source of criticism.

Another criticism is the claim that traced vexels do not create anything new (one of the characteristics of Art), when compared to a true vector tracing. A traced vexel using multiple posterized images can be traced up to the point that it is photorealistic. However, since it is a raster image, it does not scale well. This is why a vexel is not seen as valuable to these critics. Had the image been created as a true vector (using similar workflow), the image would be an improvement upon the photo because it could be scaled to any size.

The controversy of whether or not vexel images are worth much can be undoubtedly argued. However, many aspects of "vexels" remain unseen. For instance, technically, up until the point that a "vexel" is saved, it can be considered a "vector" image if implemented in a vector graphics program. Also, many vexels are created at very high resolution and thus gain most of the benefits of a vector. Practitioners in the art will often sample their images at low resolution to get a buyer at high resolution.

Some also argue that creating a vexel takes more skill than just simply clicking and coloring, as the artist must still have a keen sense of hue/saturation, skin tone, and an overall propensity to determine what looks correct. The addition of hair colors, accessories, clothing, and eye color is not uncommon.