Glossary of Design Terms
- Vector graphics (sometimes called vector shapes or vector objects) are made up of lines and curves defined by mathematical objects called vectors, which describe an image according to its geometric characteristics. You can freely move, modify or scale vector graphics without losing detail or clarity, because they are resolution-independent—they maintain crisp edges when resized, saved in a PDF file, or imported into a vector-based graphics application. As a result, vector graphics are the best choice for artwork, such as logos, that will be used at various sizes and in various output media. Adobe Illustrator is a vector editing program.
- This refers to the left page of an open book, magazine or other publication. All verso pages are numbered with an even number, such as 2, 4, 6, etc. Verso comes from Latin verso folio, meaning on the turned leaf. Compare to recto.
virtual memory/scratch disk
- Also called scratch space. A technique of making memory (RAM) seem larger than it really is by using other means of storing data such as on a hard disc. This means that you can work with as much memory as you have disc space, but the trade-off for this luxury is speed—the virtual memory is only as fast as the data transfer speed of the disc.
- The art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as drawing, painting, sculpting, architecture, photography, filmmaking, graphic design, interior design and industrial design.