This section provides information on how to use raster and grid images in Spectrum™ Technology Platform.
Raster images are useful in mapping to provide additional context and reference information.Grid images, which are a special type of raster, show a color gradation over an area representing the interpolation of data points. Raster images are typically used as a base layer in a map, while grid layers are used as overlays, on top of other layers.
For example, aerial photographs that show real-world detail such as buildings, refineries, and vegetation are well-suited as base layers for a map. Scanned paper maps are another example of a raster image. Use a raster image as a base layer and overlay vector data such as street networks, point locations representing customers, and postal boundaries, to create useful and visually appealing maps.
Raster and grid images used in Spectrum™ Technology Platform must be registered so that known geographic points on the image coincide with the same features on the vector data. Additionally, company logos and other art you wish to display must be registered to some location on earth, even though they are not true georeferenced data. Many raster images available today come with a registration file in MapInfo TAB format. To register a raster image, bring it into MapInfo Professional and register it there. Grid images can be created in MapInfo Professional. as well.