Vector data is not made up of a grid of pixels. Instead, vector graphics are comprised of vertices and paths. The three basic symbol types for vector data are points, lines and polygons (areas). Because cartographers use these symbols to represent real-world features in maps, they often have to decide based on the level of detail in the map.
Adobe Illustrator® for maps
As maps are points, lines and polygons and we need a software to edit files, so we will need a vector editing program such as Adobe Illustrator. Netmaps® pioneered the use of Adobe Illustrator® for map-making. Although at the beginning of our company, from 1997-2009, we used Macromedia Freehand software: another vector editing program.
But Adobe buys Macromedia for $3.4 Billion in 2005.
The deal combines two well-known brand names in software at a time when both are facing increasing competition from Microsoft in the market for electronic document management program. Some years later Freehand was not updated, and we had to change to Illustrator.
