1. In a computer having memory wherein is stored raster data corresponding to a raster image and vector data corresponding to a vector image, a method of executing an image manipulation operation comprising the steps of: receiving user input requesting performance of an image manipulation operation on a selected one of the raster and vector images, the operation being selected by the user from a plural group consisting of all operations available for image manipulation within a single user interface for application to both raster and vector image types, with user input steps required to apply the operation to raster data being the same as user input steps required to apply the operation to vector data; and automatically executing the requested image manipulation operation on the selected image, whereby the image manipulation operation is executed in substantially the same amount of time regardless of the data type of the selected image without regard to which image manipulation operation is requested.