What are raster images?

Raster images are made up of a fixed grid of tiny colored squares called pixels. Anything created in a pixel editor like Adobe Photoshop, or captured with a camera or scanner, is a raster image.

• Built from pixels: each pixel holds one color, and the whole grid combines to form the picture.
• Resolution matters: for sharp printing, keep raster art at 300 DPI at the final print size.
• Enlarging softens them: scaling a raster image up stretches the pixels and can look blurry or blocky.
• Common formats: JPG, TIFF, PSD, and PNG.
• Best for: photographs, detailed textures, and any artwork with smooth color gradients.