What's a vexel?

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.



Shirley Ann Manson by *carolinabarajas