Vector Magic vs Illustrator: Which Is NOT Worth Your Efforts?

Being involved in graphic design, I frequently work on raster images that I have to convert to vector format to achieve specific results, so I decided to pit Vector Magic vs Illustrator to see which tool is better suited for my needs and maybe help you in this issue.

Vector Magic’s automatic tracing feature is perfect for doing conversions, but that’s the only task this software can perform, unfortunately.

If I’m dealing with a large-scale project that requires storyboarding or making an animated video, I need a more feature-packed solution. Illustrator is a lot more versatile, as it comes with drawing tools that let me sketch out concepts and visualize the ideas I have in my head.

Vector Magic lets me conveniently convert raster pictures into scalable vector illustrations that I can easily resize without lowering their quality. This process is similar to vectorizing an image in Illustrator, only here it’s done automatically. The provided auto-tracing tool allows me to avoid having to perform the entire process manually while delivering clean, professional results.

Meanwhile, the customizable color settings and segmentation parameters allow me to personalize and enhance my images as I see fit. Sadly, I had to deal with some compatibility problems when converting files that have a large number of different hues.

For example, when processing a color-rich photo into a vector graphic, I found that some tones weren’t converted accurately, making the final image look less detailed and realistic.

Illustrator is a terrific choice that I use to design stunning illustrations for comics, marketing campaigns, and different multimedia projects. Its vast functionality includes the Pen Tool, Type Tool, Shape Tool, Pathfinder Tool, Color Palette, Gradient Tool, and Layers, which can all be instrumental in crafting pro-quality designs.

I can also integrate Illustrator with other Adobe tools to enjoy a seamless transition between different software when working on complex visual projects. Probably the only drawbacks of this tool is that it takes up a lot of space on your hard drive and requires a subscription.

However, if you’re working on a lot of graphic design projects, the paid plan is more than worth it.

Vector Magic is fantastic at quickly transforming raster illustrations into beautiful vector files without any effort required on your part. It offers impressive automated functionality and delivers solid results, covering all your basic vectorization needs.

Meanwhile, Illustrator provides a broad selection of cutting-edge features for designing stunning visual assets and illustrations while also offering accurate edge processing and font recognition. I followed some online Illustrator tutorials to learn how to design logos and create storyboards for my projects. Its drawing functionality has allowed me to make intricate illustrations that satisfy all my quality requirements.

Even though Vector Magic is a great option for fast bitmap to vector conversions, Illustrator is still the winner of this whole battle due to its superior versatility. Honestly, you can’t even compare these both tools.

I can use Illustrator for storyboarding and creating illustrations for animated videos while also integrating it with other Adobe tools like InDesign, meaning I don’t need to pay for other third-party software when tackling large-scale projects.