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While NexStorm includes support for self-made background maps in Windows BMP format, most users opt to obtain a Composite Vector Map, or CVM for short.

What is a vector?

A vector is essentially a pair of X/Y coordinates and a vector map is a collection of coordinates that describe different shapes such as roads, country borders, coastlines or lakes. By using vector graphics a map can be scaled to virtually any size without image quality loss. This is in contrast to raster based images (such as the Windows BMP bitmap) which are composed of pixels. Zooming in on a raster image will cause the pixels to become larger, creating so called pixelation artefacts which gets worse as the zoom increases.

A vector map, on the other hand, is redrawn when zoom is changed which means that there is no graphics quality loss whatsoever

Vector maps are extensively used in professional GIS software (Geographic Information Systems). The Astrogenic CVM format was specifically designed for use in NexStorm and has been optimized to provide the best possible geographical resolution to graphics rendering performance ratio.

A single CVM file contains map data for all available NexStorm zoom levels, hence "Composite". You can change outline and fill colors of the included geographical features such as roads, lakes and borders.

cvm0
Vector map configuration dialog


Advantages

cvm1
Northern Europe at 1000km/750mi zoom level. Exported PNG image size 310x310 pixels

cvm2
Example of exported CVM geographical information in XML format

A custom place layer showing major cities at 500km/310mi zoom level

cvm3
Same place layer as in the image above but showing more details at 200km/124mi zoom level

Transport yourself 👉 to here 👈 and buy a CVM for your location in our webshop!



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