X8 Vector Edges not Smooth

[rberard]

I thought using vector tools would provide the image with sharp edges and mine look jagged

[JoeB]

Could you provide some details of what steps you are following to create the vector image and shape it when you're getting jaggies?

[trueblue]

I thought using vector tools would provide the image with sharp edges and mine look jagged

I have to agree with you to some extent. PSP is not the best for vectors I'm afraid. Remember, you are drawing a shape on square pixels so it's never going to be completely un-jagged.

I drew this heart shape and have zoomed in to 500% and you can see the jagged edges......as one would at that zoom rate.

vector1.jpg (5.85 KiB) Viewed 9872 times

The second image is at 150% and the edges look good enough for me!

vector2.jpg (3.42 KiB) Viewed 9872 times

As Joe said, could you provide us with an image and tell us a little more what you are trying to do.

[Joelle]

I haven't used vectors much in PSP in the last few years.
There hasn't been any development since Corel took over from Jasc and it shows.
Using vectors in PSP is cumbersome and very very fiddly. Not a joy at all.

I did a comparison, drawing a circle in PSPX8 and in Xara (my preferred application for vectors).

Joëlle

[MarkZ]

Joelle, it appears that Xara redraws the vector at every level of magnification - no jaggies because it is dependent only on the resolution of the monitor, which is constant. I imagine this allows working in greater detail than in PSP. PSP draws the vector at 100% and zooming in further magnifies the pixels of the image produced at 100%. My guess is that a jpg generated by both programs would show the same degree of jaggies.

[LeviFiction]

I agree with MarkZ. It's important to remember that PSP is a raster based program with vector capabilities. Xara is a vector program with raster capabilities.

But back on point. As I no longer have any other versions installed on my system, on at least one of my computers the rendering of the vector graphic is more jagged than I'm used to if the zoom is not set at 100%. At 100% it looks very smooth even on a smaller image. At 80% or 120% it's very jagged and uneven. Which suggests a problem with the rendering of the zoomed image. The vector is still smooth, but the appearance is not. This might be specific to my computer.

rberard - if you export the image as a raster does the vector remain jagged for you?

Other things you might want to check out are to make sure "anti-alias" is turned on for your object. That you're not zoomed in massively.

[Joelle]

Fired up X5 (the earliest version I have installed) and did the same circle, zoomed in 1000x and the jaggies weren't as pronounced, but are still very visible.
I doubt any of this will ever get rectified as Corel is now aiming at the photo market and not vector.
With Inkscape (free) and Xara (not very expensive) doing a good job, it would be too expensive for Corel to spend the money.

I have no idea about the Xara 're-drawing', but the results are amazing, I have made tiny birds (to fit inside a camera and enlarged it to, not quite, poster size and it's as sharp as can be.)

Joëlle

Going by this explanation:
https://www.psprint.com/resources/diffe ... er-vector/

Quote: "Rasters and vectors defined
A raster image is made of up pixels, each a different color, arranged to display an image.

A vector image is made up of paths, each with a mathematical formula (vector) that tells the path how it is shaped and what color it is bordered with or filled by.

The major difference is that raster image pixels do not retain their appearance as size increases – when you blow a photograph up, it becomes blurry for this reason. Vector images do retain appearance regardless of size, since the mathematical formulas dictate how the image is rendered."

Ergo, PSP's vectors were never 'proper' vectors.

[hartpaul]

A raster image is made of up pixels, each a different color, arranged to display an image.

A vector image is made up of paths, each with a mathematical formula (vector) that tells the path how it is shaped and what color it is bordered with or filled by.

The major difference is that raster image pixels do not retain their appearance as size increases – when you blow a photograph up, it becomes blurry for this reason. Vector images do retain appearance regardless of size, since the mathematical formulas dictate how the image is rendered."

Ergo, PSP's vectors were never 'proper' vectors.

As previously mentioned , this refers only to scaling / zooming in and out , because the vector and raster image is not redrawn.

Now draw a small filled preset vector shape, scale/ zoom it and you get jaggies, use the pick tool and you can increase its size with no jaggies because the vector shape is redrawn, and this applies to vector text as well. Isn't this proper vector behaviour?

[JoeB]

As previously mentioned , this refers only to scaling / zooming in and out , because the vector and raster image is not redrawn.

Now draw a small filled preset vector shape, scale/ zoom it and you get jaggies, use the pick tool and you can increase its size with no jaggies because the vector shape is redrawn, and this applies to vector text as well. Isn't this proper vector behaviour?

Absolutely. PSP does not redraw when scaling because it is an image editor, not an image viewer. With an editor you need the ability to scale up to be able to view and work at pixel level. There was another thread recently where the OP of that thread had been confusing the terms zoom (or scaling) and resize.