SVG Essentials

Preface

SVG Essentials introduces you to the Scalable Vector Graphics XML application. SVG, a recommendation from the World Wide Web Consortium, uses XML to describe graphics that are made up of lines, curves, and text. This rather dry definition does not do justice to the scope and power of SVG.

You can add SVG graphics to an Extensible Stylesheet Language Formatting Objects (XSL-FO) document, and convert the combined document to Adobe PDF format for high-quality printouts. Mapmakers and meteorologists are using SVG to create highly detailed graphic images in a truly portable format. All of the diagrams in this book were originally created in SVG before being sent to the art department at O’Reilly. As you learn and use SVG, you’re sure to think of new and interesting uses for this emerging technology.

Who Should Read This Book?

You should read this book if you want to:

• Create SVG files in a text or XML editor

• Create SVG files from existing vector data

• Transform other XML data to SVG

• Use JavaScript to manipulate the SVG document object tree

• Serve SVG or SVG-source graphics over the Web

Who Should Not Read This Book?

If you simply want to view SVG files, you need only acquire a viewer program or plug-in for the Web, download the files, and enjoy them. There’s no need for you to know what’s going on behind the scenes unless you wish to satisfy your lively intellectual curiosity.

If you wish to create SVG files with a drawing program that has SVG export capability, just read that program’s documentation ...