More about Vectors

Vector graphics are created in drawing programs.
The lines between control points (or vertices) are mathematically created in the program's software. The curve seen above is one that attempts to create the smoothest possible line which also goes through the control points. There are other kinds of curves available which behave in different ways, though these varieties are usually only encountered in 3D cgi.

Most programs will give you a lot of control over the appearance of your drawings. In the picture above, you see on the rightmost point a typical double "handle". Both arms of these handles can be manipulated. The shorter the handle, the more abrupt the line's behaviour as it reaches the control point. When the handles are zero length, the point becomes in effect a peak. In the image below, each of the three shapes has the same 4 control points but with varying degrees of smoothness:

The change from circle to diamond shown above can be very quickly inbetweened by your software and this is an example of vector graphics animation at its absolute simplest. The limitation is that the beginning shape and the end shape must have the same number of control points. If, for example, you wanted the end shape in an animation from a circle to have 8 sides, the circle would need to have 8 control points.

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