Studio Artist's canvas frame buffers are raster image frame buffers, and the program was originally designed for raster painting , raster image processing, and raster based effects. However, over time a number of different vector paint, vector effect, and vector file output possibilities have been added.
The Vectorizer converts raster images into vector images. This conversion can be very accurate and realistic, or very artistically stylized. Vectorizer output can be directly output as eps or svg vector files. Here's an introduction to the vectorizer tip:
http://www.synthetik.com/tips/2008/10/introduction-to-the-vectorizer/
The paint synthesizer is primarily a raster paint engine. But it also offers some different vector painting and vector file output possibilities.
There are 2 different ways to paint with vectors. Either by working with the anti-alias solid brush type (Brush Type control panel), or by setting the Main Render Option in the Vector Output control panel to Vector (Solid Color). The Vector option for the Main Render parameter overrides the anti-alias solid brush type, so if you want to use the way to output vector paint, you need to keep the main Render Option set to Raster (yes, a little confusing).
Here's a tip on vector drawing with the paint synthesizer (including some information on how to generate vector file output from painting recorded in a PASeq).
http://www.synthetik.com/tips/2009/04/vector-drawing-in-the-paint-synthesizer/
Vector painting (and any vectorizer effects) can be output as resolution independent eps or svg vector files. Those vector files can be opened in other programs and rasterized to arbitrary resolutions. So if any of the artistic effects you are trying to achieve fall into the realm of the vectorizer effects or vector painting styles, then this is an approach to work with a smaller resolution canvas than your final print resolution (for increased speed and reduced memory consumption). Upcoming Studio Artist V5 has a much wider range of vector artistic styles, including some that look remarkably like raster paint. V4 is more restricted (typically flat colored region or paint stroke vector effects).
Keep in mind that Studio Artist's canvas frame buffers are raster frame buffers. So if you wish to output vector painting as vector file output, you need to record the vector painting actions in a Paint Action Sequence, and then use one of the action menu options that output a PASeq to eps or svg vector files. Your vector painting action steps will then be replayed, and the results spooled to the generated vector output file at the same time that the rasterized vector painting is generated in the raster canvas frame buffers.
Here are several tips on generating vector output from Studio Artist (including specific tips on eps and svg output).
http://www.synthetik.com/tips/tag/vector/
Keep in mind that multi-step effects can be used to originally generate a raster image processing effect, and then convert that raster artistic effect into a vector representation that can be output to eps or svg. Basically, you generate the raster effect and then use the vectorizer to convert it into a vector representation. You can record all of the steps associated with effects like this into a PASeq preset if you wish for easy access when working. Here's a tip that discusses this approach in more detail:
http://www.synthetik.com/tips/2010/01/generating-vector-output-from-a-raster-image-operation-effect/
Studio Artist layers also have an associated bezier path frame, in addition to the RGBA raster image buffer associated with the layer. The bezier path frame is primarily used to store bezier paths associated with individual paint strokes. However, by being clever about how you work with and use a layer's bezier path frame, you can build many interesting artistic effects. Here's a number of different tips on working with bezier paths and the bezier path frame in Studio Artist.
