Which statement best describes the difference between raster effects and vector effects in Illustrator?

• A. Raster effects are vector-based and do not rasterize.
• B. Raster effects are bitmap-based and render only in vector strokes.
• C. Raster effects are bitmap-based effects like glow or blur; vector effects are path-based and scale crisply.
• D. Raster effects apply only to text and not to shapes.

Answer: (C)

The difference hinges on how the effects render: raster effects create bitmap results, while vector effects stay as vector geometry and remain scalable and crisp. Raster effects like glow or blur are processed as pixels at a chosen resolution, so they can soften or pixelate if you scale the artwork or export at different sizes. Vector effects, by contrast, are applied to the path itself and do not rasterize; edges stay sharp at any size because they are defined by mathematical paths. That’s why describing raster effects as bitmap-based and describing vector effects as path-based and scale-crisp is the best fit.