Vectoraster

Vectoraster is a graphic design application for macOS developed by Lost Minds, specializing in creating raster-based vector graphics—a process often called halftoning or pointillism in a digital context.

It allows you to generate vector patterns based on an input image, where the size, shape, and rotation of the individual vector points or lines are controlled by the brightness or color of the source image.

How Vectoraster Works

Vectoraster transforms a source image (bitmap) into a scalable vector graphic (SVG, PDF, EPS) composed of simple, repetitive shapes.

• Input Image: You load a source image (e.g., a photograph, illustration, or piece of text).
• Raster Points: Vectoraster places a grid of points or shapes over the image.
• Point Control: The characteristics of each point are dynamically controlled by the underlying image:
• Size: Brighter areas of the image result in larger points; darker areas result in smaller points.
• Color: The point can adopt the color of the image at that specific location.
• Rotation: The point can be rotated based on the local contrast or gradient.

Key Features and Uses

Vectoraster is a specialized tool that provides deep control over the pattern generation process:

• Diverse Shapes: It offers a wide variety of vector point shapes, including circles, polygons, lines, waves, text characters, and custom shapes.

• Vector Output: The output is a vector file (PDF, EPS, SVG), meaning the final graphic is resolution-independent and can be scaled infinitely without any loss of quality, which is ideal for large-format printing.

• Point Placement: You can control the placement of the points using different raster types: rectangular, hexagonal, radial, or custom distribution based on density maps.

• Motion and Animation: Vectoraster Pro includes features to generate animated patterns by changing parameters over time, outputting the result as an animated GIF, MP4, or QuickTime file.

• Creative Freedom: It's heavily used by designers for creating abstract artwork, unique visual effects for branding, large-scale murals, screen-printing designs, and artistic reproductions of photos.