post #521309 on nova-boards:

What is a vector?  And what is not vector?','(Perhaps this should be made sticky.)

Princeton University WordNet calls a vector:

"a variable quantity that can be resolved into components"


This is the "general" definition of a vector.  Often, in computer science and graphics, we can elaborate more specific instances of a vectors, and the Free Online Dictionary of Computing has some of these instances:

"1. <mathematics> A member of a vector space."

a /member/ of a vector space.  As in not a collection of vectors.

"2. <graphics> A line or movement defined by its end points, or
by the current position and one other point. See vector
graphics."

A line, not a collection of lines.

"3. <operating system> A memory location containing the address
of some code, often some kind of exception handler or other
operating system service. By changing the vector to point
to a different piece of code it is possible to modify the
behaviour of the operating system.

Compare hook."

A code pointer... not related.

"4. <programming> A one-dimensional array."

a one-dimensional array composed of points could comprise a segmented line, however, if the line were at all broken, requiring another dimension, it's not encapsulable into a one-dimensional array.

(source: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=vector )

--

Now, where does the phrase "vector" come that refers to a "posterized" "raster" image?
posterize:
http://www.ftgimp.com/help/C/tools/posterize.html
"... intelligently weigh the pixel colors ... and reduce the number of colors while maintaining a semblance of the original image characteristics."
raster:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=raster
"the set of horizontal lines composed of pixels, used to form an image on a CRT screen"

Posterization is the operation performed on the image of a type "raster".  It's not a PostScript file, but a raster image that is being displayed.

So when we say, "here's a vector I made" on Nova, we really mean "here's a _posterized raster image_ I made."

Frankly, I have no clue where the term "vector" came from as used in the context of a posterized raster image.  If somebody can trace back the first instance of this inappropriate usage meme, I would appreciate it immensely.
Let\'s not obliterate the English language when we have terms already available, in wide use, and foremost, correct.

Thank you for your time,

Seth Woolley
who got an A in his 400-level 3D Computer Graphics class, where he dealt with _real_ vectors in complex 3D-space

... after much discussion about what words to use or not ...

post #532851 on nova-boards:

Alea: "What people don't realise is, whether you made it in illustrator/flash/etc. or not, once you save it, it's a bitmap image it's no longer a vector. I 
wish people would drop it with the 'OMGWTFBBQ DAT IS NOT A VECTOOR!!!!!1111' :roll:"

I did realize that, and that was actually one of the points I made somewhere in the thread.

"We use the term 'vector' because in essence, it's a generic vector, or a mock-vector if you will. There's no reason to change the lingo just because it's no politically correct."

OK, new word: "vexel" a cross between vector and pixel.  Crossing between vector and raster wouldn't work too well.  To be used as an adjective and a noun.

Like how a texel is a texture pixel in 3d graphics and a voxel is a volume pixel in 3d graphics.