Leaving your layer as is won’t reduce its quality after it’s rasterized. – You Won’t Be Able To Rescale Without Quality Loss That’s why you end up with a pixelated looking edge when zoomed in. This is the big difference between vector and raster layers.Īfter rasterizing, your image is converted into pixels and needs to fit within the parameters of the pixels in your document. In the example above you can how the edge of the shape is sharp and crisp in the first photo, but somewhat boxy looking in the second. Although rasterizing a layer doesn’t necessarily reduce the quality, it does change how the edges of your text, layers, or shapes appear. The real difference comes when you zoom in. When you first rasterize a layer, things won’t look all that different at first. – Rasterizing Layers Changes The Look Of Edges Does Rasterizing Reduce Quality?Īlthough you won’t technically lose any image quality from rasterizing a layer, there are some important changes to be aware of. In short, if you need to rasterize a layer to make a pixel-based adjustment, do so on a duplicate layer. That way I have an option to change my mind later on or start all over if I make the wrong adjustment. Whenever you can, it’s far more advantageous to duplicate and rasterize your vector layers so you always have a backup.įor example, if I wanted to edit my shape layer directly, I would duplicate the layer and rasterize the duplicate. After all, what if you change your mind and want to go back to your original vector?Īfter rasterizing a layer, this won’t be possible. Since it would be a permanent change, it’s not necessarily a good idea. With that said, rasterizing a layer isn’t a good way of editing non-destructively. For any pixel type adjustments, you won’t be able to apply them without rasterizing first. In some cases, you won’t have any option but to rasterize your layer to get the types of effects you’re going for. When Should You Rasterize A Layer In Photoshop? If you want to rasterize all your vector layers at once, you can use Layer > Rasterize > All Layers instead. If you just want to rasterize your entire layer, select it in your layers panel go Layer > Rasterize > Layer.
For example, you could rasterize layer effects without affecting your vector text. If your layer has multiple vector effects on it, this method lets you choose which areas you want to rasterize. The first and fastest, way to rasterize a layer is to right-click on it in your layers panel, and choose “Rasterize.”Īlternatively, you can go up to Layer > Rasterize and select which type of layer(s) you want to rasterize. How Do You Rasterize A Layer?Īny vector layer or smart object can be quickly rasterized in one of two ways.
That way you can apply pixel type effects onto your layer without any issues. By rasterizing the layer, you can convert the vector from a geometric formula and turn it into pixels. That’s where rasterizing comes into play. That means in some instances, you won’t be able to apply the effects you need to a vector layer because it can’t be mixed with a pixel layer. The problem with vectors is they are not compatible with pixel effects such as brush adjustments or the eraser tool. This is perfect for graphics that need to have clean edges or be scaled up significantly. As a vector layer, the image is made up of geometric formulas to create the contents of your image. Rasterizing a layer will convert any type of vector layer into pixels. What Is The Purpose Of Rasterizing A Layer? To better understand the meaning behind rasterizing in Photoshop, let’s go through the purposes of this feature. However, you gain the ability to directly edit the layer. When a vector becomes rasterized, you can see the pixels along the edges instead of a clean line. This changes how your layer is displayed and what editing capabilities you have.
Rasterizing a layer means you are converting a vector layer to pixels.
This word might seem a little mysterious as the difference between a rasterized layer and a vector are not all that different. Perhaps you need to edit the layer, change the color, or erase parts of the image, but it’s not possible without rasterization. Whether you’re working with text, shapes, or smart objects, you’ll find yourself coming across the need to “rasterize” the layer.