drawing program (redirected from Vector graphics editor)

A graphics program used for creating illustrations. It maintains an image in vector graphics format, which allows all elements of the picture to be isolated, moved and scaled independent of the others.

Drawing programs and CAD programs are similar; however, drawing programs usually provide a large number of special effects for fancy illustrations, while CAD programs provide precise dimensioning and positioning of each graphic element in order that the objects can be transferred to other systems for engineering analysis and manufacturing.

Examples of popular drawing programs for Windows are Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW and Macromedia Freehand. Illustrator and Freehand are also available for the Macintosh. Contrast with paint program. See graphics and diagramming program.

Drawing Vs. Painting

Although more painting tools are added to drawing programs and more drawing tools are added to paint programs, their inherent structure is entirely different. Drawing programs (vector graphics) allow for the creation of objects that can be manipulated independently. Paint programs (bitmapped graphics) provide a canvas that can be covered with electronic paint.