Vexel

Vexel is a neologism for an entirely pixel-based form of raster art that imitates the vector graphics technique, but is distinguished from normal vector graphics or raster images. The word itself is a portmanteau derived from a combination of "vector" and "pixel." [ [http://vexels.net/what.php#post What is a Vexel? - Vexels.net - Vexel and Vector Art Community] ] It is is an entirely pixel-based raster image that imitates the vector graphics style.

Technique

Currently there is no one defined way to create a vexel. [ [http://news.deviantart.com/article/27110/ News: Vexed over Vexels] ] [ [http://swoolley.org/blog.cgi/vexel%20vs%20vector Seth Woolley's Blog - Occasional Musings] ] However, one archetypal way to create a vexel [ [http://vexels.net/tutorials.php Photoshop, Illustrator, Vector Art and Vexel Tutorials - Vexels.net - Vexel and Vector Art Community] ] follows. Instead of using vector-based lines, shapes, and polygons to create an image, a vexel is typically created using a raster program's support of transparent layers. Each transparent layer is given a solid (or sometimes gradient [ [http://swoolley.org/blog.cgi/vexels%20%2D%20style%20or%20technique%3F Seth Woolley's Blog - Occasional Musings] ] ) shape and a display ordering that when displayed together with other near shape layers appears to create a stepped-but-gradual color transition. In some cases, for more realism, gradients are used that remove the stepping in the color transitions to create a smoother, photo-realistic image.

The different nature of raster programs over a vector-plotted approach gives some vexel images a unique appearance when compared with traditional rasterized vector graphics, however, the increased flexibility comes with a loss of image scalability for print media, which is often a source of criticism.Fact|date=August 2007 To compensate for this, most vexels are created at very high resolution.

A vexel may even be composed using vector graphic techniques, however it becomes a vexel when the vector elements are rasterized and further manipulations to the image are done in raster. Sometimes true raster images are placed behind and/or in front of the original vector elements to emphasize the surrealism that the vector elements produce. A vexel is not essentially created with paintbrushes, airbrushes or a freehand tool such as pencil, although some may include these elements if they are not the primary medium. Ben Woolley says " [V] exels were originally meant to involve a vector technique, not any particular aesthetic style." [ [http://tautology.org/philosophy/vexel Vexel] ]

Style and appearance

Vexels are often characterized by crisp, clean color and lines (that look nearly vector-graphics style) but is entirely pixel-based, with a variety of color levels, from 2-color outlines to pseudo-realism.

Most vexels are also based on photographs.Fact|date=April 2008

Popularity

The popularity of vexels stems from the fact that traced vexel requires little drawing ability.

While "vexel" is used and accepted in a relatively narrow, self-described "vexel" community, the art and general worlds have not embraced it as warmly, mostly because it refers to a body of work mostly revolving around DeviantArt [ [http://news.deviantart.com/article/24044/ News: Vexel Art Gallery] ] and Vexels.Net [ [http://www.vexels.net Vexels.net - Vexel and Vector Art Community] ] and because of the workflow by which most vexel art is created.

Etymology

The term vexel was created by Seth Woolley while he was a technical contributor to the now defunct but once popular teen message board Nova Boards to give it a distinctive name from traditional vector graphics. [ [http://vexels.net/what.php#post What is a Vexel? - Vexels.net - Vexel and Vector Art Community] ] Seth didn't approve of calling the raster images that looked like vectors the name of "vector". In response to a question of what they would be called, he coined the term "vexel" as a combination of vector and pixel since they were not simply rasters, and those asking needed a name for a new style. He at first suggested calling them rasterized or posterized vector images, but the community took the word "vexel" as an acceptable neologism. Ben Woolley has described its derivation. [ [http://tautology.org/philosophy/vexel Vexel] ]

References and notes