GIS Files 2: Geographical data

2.4: What does GIS data look like? (2)

Changing the appearance of vector data

The greatest flexibility comes when using vector data; remember that all the computer stores is a set of coordinates which make up the shape of the object. Any GIS will let you choose the colour and style of how the features are represented on screen. These styles will then be reflected in the printed output from the system and, ironically, many organisations use GIS simply to create customised printed maps.

With point features you can change the symbol type and the colour, and for line features you can change the style and colour. For area features you can change the colour of the shape itself as well as its perimeter. The colouring of the body of the shape (the fill) can be made solid, patterned or even transparent.

You can try creating a customised map yourself which shows how you can create many different types of map from vector data.

Customised map demonstration

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