What does rasterize mean?
To rasterize is to convert visual information into a raster, a grid of individual pixels that records the colour or intensity of an image at specific points. The process is used in printing, image processing, text recognition, and the preparation of artwork for systems that require pixel-based data. Rasterization differs from simple scaling because it turns a representation such as a vector drawing into a fixed pattern of pixels. Once an image has been rasterized, enlarging it may reveal the individual squares and reduce its sharpness. The term is mainly found in technical contexts, although the related verb “pixelate” is sometimes used informally for a similar transformation. In everyday discussion, a person may simply say that something has been “converted into pixels,” especially when explaining how a scanned page or digital illustration is represented inside a computer.
verbTo convert an image, drawing, text, or other visual data into a raster format consisting of a grid of pixels. The resulting representation records the intensity or colour of discrete points rather than using geometric shapes and mathematical instructions.
- To convert visual information into a grid of pixels.
- To scan text or images by means of a raster scanning pattern.
"The printing system automatically rasterizes the high-resolution illustration before sending it to the laser printer."
"The designer rasterized the vector artwork so it could be displayed consistently in the legacy application."
"The old typesetter rasterized each page before sending the image to the photographic printing system."
Rasterization is the moment an image stops being a set of shapes and becomes a mosaic of tiny, individually coloured squares.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rasterize come from?
The word was formed in the 20th century from “raster” and the suffix “-ize.” “Raster” comes through Latin from “rastrum,” a rake, originally referring to a scanning device that moved line by line across a surface. The development from scanning to a grid-based image representation occurred as printing and computing adopted the same underlying concept of orderly rows and points.
Related word forms
How rasterize is actually used
This is primarily a technical computing term. It is especially associated with graphics, printing, image processing, OCR, and text scanning; in general conversation, “convert to pixels” is more accessible.
Easily confused with rasterize
A raster represents an image with a grid of individual pixels, whereas a vector represents it with geometric paths and instructions that can be scaled without loss of detail.
Rasterization converts visual information into pixels, while vectorization performs the reverse process by representing pixel-based images as scalable vector shapes.