SVG Gets an Editor
By Lynne Cooney
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is a graphics format based on XML, and is currently nearing completion at W3C. Support for SVG isn't as broad as for Flash and Shockwave yet, but you can expect that to change with broader industry and browser support. Preparing to grab hold of the emerging market, Jasc has released a beta version of WebDraw.
Devil Doll Conversion
To test WebDraw, I decided to try importing a vector file to convert to SVG. (I asked my pal Joe Sparks for a vector file of Devil Doll.) I thought this would be fun because SVG is becoming Adobe's answer to Macromedia's Flash. WebDraw doesn't import anything but SVG at the present, so first I had to import Macromedia FreeHand graphics into Adobe Illustrator and then export them to SVG. FreeHand and Illustrator don't have very compatible gradient tools, so I removed the gradients before exporting.
All of Devil Doll's outlines disappeared when I ungrouped him, because Illustrator applied outlines to the group and not the individual elements. So, I reapplied the outlines and set to work re-creating the gradients. WebDraw has numerous pre-installed gradients' however, you can also import gradients from Paint Shop Pro. Devil Doll only has two simple gradients, so I chose to create them in the SVG Source.
