vector graphics

(Sometimes called "object-oriented" graphics,

though it's nothing to do with object-oriented programming).

A drawing program which deals with separate shapes such as

lines, polygons and text and groups of such objects as opposed

to a painting program which stores only {bitmap}s. The

advantage is that it is possible to change any element of the

picture at any time since each part is stored as an

independent object whereas once something in a bitmap has been

overwritten it cannot in general be retrieved.

(1996-09-30)