Natural Earth is a public domain

Public domain

Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...

 map

Map

A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....

 dataset available at 1:10 million (1 cm = 100 km), 1:50 million, and 1:110 million map scales. Featuring closely integrated vector and raster data, with Natural Earth one can make a variety of visually pleasing, well-crafted maps with all commonly used cartography

Cartography

Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...

 and GIS software. Natural Earth is designed to meet the needs of experienced cartographers using a variety of software applications.

Natural Earth was built through a collaboration of many volunteers and is supported by NACIS, The North American Cartographic Information Society, and is free for public use in any type of project.

Public domain data and software

All versions of Natural Earth raster

Raster graphics

In computer graphics, a raster graphics image, or bitmap, is a data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, viewable via a monitor, paper, or other display medium...

 and vector

Vector graphics

Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon, which are all based on mathematical expressions, to represent images in computer graphics...

 map data on the Natural Earth website are in the public domain. Anyone may use the maps in any manner, including modifying the content and design. The primary authors, Tom Patterson

Tom Patterson (cartographer)

Tom Patterson is a cartographer working for the United States National Park Service in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. He has developed several widely used open-source tools and bases for cartographers....

 and Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso

Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso

Nathaniel Vaughan Kelso is a cartographer working for Stamen Design, and previously The Washington Post and the National Geographic Society. He collaborated with Tom Patterson on the Natural Earth project and related journal article...

, and all other contributors, invite all others to use them for any personal, educational, or commercial purpose.

External links

• Natural Earth project website.
• Shaded Relief, Ideas and techniques about relief presentation in maps, by Tom Patterson.