At this time we deal with all kinds of content and files on the computer, all thanks to the power of PCs, and the programs that we have. We refer to text documents, presentations, videos, PDF, or photos. It is of this last mentioned type that we are going to talk to you precisely in these same lines, specifically about two well-known formats, SVG and JPG .
We do not have to tell you that the computers we have at home or in the office, the photos have become a more than usual element. We use these for leisure, at work, to share, send, save, edit, etc. In this way, today when we talk about the images we deal with on the computer, we can find a large number of different formats. By this we mean the types of files that we handle for these purposes.
There are many image formats that have been with us for years, to which new more current additions are added. It is worth mentioning that each of them has its own characteristics. In this way, each of these formats becomes more or less suitable for one or the other, depending on the needs in which we find ourselves. Of course, it must be recognized that in the end, among all of them, in most cases we end up working with them.
Either for compatibility or functionality, we usually end up using the popular JPG or PNG image formats. To these we can also add the RAW or the TIF for photography enthusiasts.
What is SVG image format
But as we say, there are many more that can be very helpful. There is also another very interesting format, although not very widespread, that we should not ignore: SVG. This is a specific format that over the years has not stopped growing and spreading in terms of its global use. To begin with, what we should know is that this SVG is the acronym for Scalable Vector Graphics . Therefore, as you can imagine, we refer to a type of digital image that is created from vector graphics.
Bitmap Image Issues
For us to understand each other, this means that the images that are saved in this specific format must be able to be represented as vector graphics and mathematical functions. This is somewhat different from the internal structure and behavior of other more popular image formats.
To give us an idea of what we mean, what happens with bitmap images such as JPG, PNG, or BMP, each pixel of it has its own information. Thus, when we work with an image based on a bitmap and enlarge it, we can see a significant loss of quality.
Depending on the quality of the original, with this enlargement, the photo may even become totally blurry. This is because when zooming in on a photo based on a bitmap, what we do is magnify each pixel individually. This can translate, as often happens, into a gradual loss of quality and definition.
Advantages of an SVG over a JPG
However when we refer to vector-based digital images, such as the aforementioned SVG , things change here. We tell you this because, unlike what happens with bitmaps, when you zoom in on a vector image, it is not damaged. This is largely due to the mathematical properties of the vectors that compose it. Thus, what is achieved is that the image is redrawn by multiplying its vector by the zoom value that we are applying at that moment.
As you can imagine, this can provide us with some interesting advantages in certain uses of digital photos, such as SVGs. Therefore, with this internal behavior the image as such is redrawn from scratch. Of course, with this we achieve a clean quality and without any loss, unlike bitmaps.
We have already explained some of the characteristics of vector images such as SVG . In addition to what has been said about the null loss of quality when zooming, we can add that these take up much less space than a bitmap. Therefore if we handle large amounts of SVG, for example, the disk consumption will be much lower than if we work with photos in JPG or BMP. But with everything and with it. this type of vector images also have some drawbacks, as we will see.
Drawbacks of vector images like SVG
To begin with, we will tell you that in this case we cannot save an image captured with a camera as a vector image. The main reason for this is that the creation and treatment of this type of images entails a very high workload for the hardware. On the other hand, we must know that we cannot process any content in the form of vectors. In fact, vector image files tend to focus on reflecting vector geometric elements created from lines and curves, texts, or simple images that are created with a combination of both.
On the other hand, it is also interesting to know that this type of vector images, as with SVGs, cannot be edited with any program. For this that we tell you, it is more than advisable to use Inkscape-type vector image editors that we can download from here . These are applications specially developed so that we can work with these types of files. To all this we must add that the color limitations in vector images are greater than in those of bitmaps.
Another thing we should know is that everything discussed does not mean that SVG images do not allow complex content to be created, but it will be different from a JPG.
Convert a bitmap image as JPG to vector
Once we know the differences, advantages and disadvantages of an SVG file and a JPG, let’s see how to convert them. Say that at this point, the ideal way to create a new vector image is to do it through its mathematical functions . This is something that for example we achieve with specific applications such as the one mentioned above, Inkscape , all of this by creating the image from scratch. But we can also convert a bitmap image as JPG to vector or SVG format.
But of course, due to their different nature, the result that we will obtain here will not always be the expected one. For this that we comment, we also have somewhat specific software solutions.
For example, to convert a JPG to SVG, we can make use of the VectorMagic application online that we access from here .