GIMP goes SVG

An anonymous reader writes "The GIMP developers released a new snapshot in the development series. Version 1.3.21 (aka the path to excellence release) features an improved path tool with superb path stroking and adds SVG support. You can now export your GIMP paths to SVG and the new SVG import plug-in not only renders Scalable Vector Graphics for you at the desired resolution, it also imports SVG paths as GIMP paths."

Comments

SVG a Huge plus

[Doesn't_Comment_Code]

The addition of vector graphics definitely pushes Gimp over the edge. I used to use Gimp for all sorts of little images, but occasionally had to opt for something commercial because many print corporations only use vector graphics.

Way to go Gimp! If doing practically everything photoshop can do for free didn't put Gimp on the map. The addition of SVG ought to.

Re:SVG a Huge plus

[Jameth]

What would put GIMP on the map is an easier interface (although 1.3 is a vast improvement, it still ain't photoshop)

Also, if you want a good vector graphics editor for free, try SodiPodi. It's good. Especially for a 0.3 level program.

P.S. This isn't meant to be rude to GIMP. It's being compared only to THE BEST. They actually have a better interface than most other programs that compete with Photoshop (that is, programs that I've tried).

GIMP website interface...

[chill]

The look of www.gimp.org will be changing.

SVG is the future

[CausticWindow]

Get an SVG enabled Mozilla build and start playing with it. It's fun.

Re:LAMENS TERMS

[arcanumas]

I am Greek and yet i could not understand it. thanks.

What does this mean for Sodipodi?

[Chilltowner]

I wonder what the Sodipodi developers are going to do with this. Hopefully, there will be lots of cooperation. Sodipodi is rapidly maturing into a truly great vector graphics app for Linux and Windows (and OS X over X11, I'd guess). If the two projects cooperated, we could have an Illustrator killer on our hands!

Re:What does this mean for Sodipodi?

[Raphael]

One of the goals of adding SVG support in the GIMP was to allow better cooperation between the GIMP and Sodipodi or other vector-based applications.

Until recently, if you were using Sodipodi, you had to convert your SVG file to a bitmap format (such as PNG) before being able to load it in the GIMP. Now it is possible to import the SVG file directly into the GIMP and make some minor adjustments before creating the final image. You can also convert some parts of the SVG (imported as paths in the GIMP) to selections and apply more complex effects that what SVG would allow.

Note that the SVG support in the GIMP is only due to the integration of the SVG plug-in that had been available since a while as part of libsvg. So it's nothing really new, although including it as part of the default GIMP distribution seems to make a significant difference.

Three Questions

[Jameth]

1) Did they waste time writing it all themselves, or are they interworking with SodiPodi? SodiPodi is an excellent piece of software if you want to edit SVG.

2) Does it just import them and make paths, or is it a full-featured SVG editor? Someone else commented on it now being Photoshop+Illustrator, but that's a whole different thing. Photoshop also supports importing SVG and AI format, it just doesn't edit them. (see question three)

3) Does it make this simple? I've tried to figure a way to do both Vector and Raster editing in one program before, and had some ideas, but nothing that would truly make it easy. The reason Illustrator and Photoshop are separate is not for the chance to sell two products (although I suspect that influences the idea a bit) but because there isn't a way to do vector and raster editing in a well mixed manner. At best, you end up with something that changes back and forth between being a vector editor and a raster editor depending on what is selected.

Re:Three Questions

[Pope Raymond Lama]

The answer for the three questions is:

All that was added is the ability to
import and export raster files encapsulated
as SVG - AND import and export Gimp vector - The Bezier Paths existing in gimp 1.2.x.

Re:Three Questions

[Jameth]

Bezier paths alone do not a vector graphics program make.

Re:Three Questions

[Jameth]

Sorry. That sounded rude. I should think longer before I say things.

Re:Three Questions

[bolsh]

> 1) Did they waste time writing it all themselves, or are they interworking with SodiPodi? SodiPodi is an excellent piece of software if you want to edit SVG.

We (or rather Sven) used rsvg to read and render the SVG as a bitmap.

> 2) Does it just import them and make paths, or is it a full-featured SVG editor? Someone else commented on it now being Photoshop+Illustrator, but that's a whole different thing. Photoshop also supports importing SVG and AI format, it just doesn't edit them. (see question three)

It just imports SVG to a rastermap, and exports paths to SVG. There is no support for the funky stuff like gradient fills, object groups, etc. This is not a vector graphics program.

> 3) Does it make this simple?

Yes. You load your SVG, specifying the size of the bounding box, and there you go.

Cheers,
Dave.

SVG rendering engine?

[4of12]

So what does the GIMP use to render SVG and how good is it?

In particular, is it different from the libart that Mozilla has been using?

The world really needs a high quality open source SVG renderer. Adobe's plugins don't exist for every platform and Batik, AFAIK, relies on Java 2D.

Re:SVG rendering engine?

[msevior]

I believe it uses librsvg. The fastest and most complaint SVG renderer out there.

(Maintained by my good friend and fellow AbiWord developer Dom Lachowicz)

Martin

JPG properties

[javatips]

Any news if GIMP now (or will) retain properties embeded in JPG images when saving as JPG?

V1.2.4 does not support this which make it an inconvenient choice to edit pictures taken with a digital camera. All JPG properties like date the picture was shot and other parameters get lost when saving.

Re:JPG properties

[Captain Large Face]

Apparently, EXIF data is kept in JPEG files from version 1.3.16, which should be what you're after.

Outstanding!

[Anonymous Coward]

Your message is nothing but a sea of errors.

First, it's "layman's." (Lamens? Is that a brand of ramen noodles or something?)

Secondly, no, this announcement does NOT mean GIMP works like Photoshop AND Illustrator. Nothing of the sort, not even close. ALL this means is that GIMP can now save into a scalable vector format designed for the web. The decidedly low- to mid-tier GIMP project still has a long way to go before it even touches Photoshop, let alone Illustrator (although, so as not to seem like *too* much of a troll, I will say that GIMP is pretty darn good as a basic image editor. Can't beat the price, for sure).

I understand it's exciting to post on Slashdot and all, but, you seriously just posted a message that does not contain a single correct statement. That's pretty... err, lame.

rudimentary CMYK separation also

[ubiquitin]

There is also a rudimentary plugin now which handles CMYK color separations here. Also, the MacGIMP site had a story on the SVG changes as well before it was posted on Slashdot.

The GIMP New Web Site

[Pope Raymond Lama]

The GIMP is on the road for a 2.0 release that shall happen this year. Actually, this 1.3.21 release shall be the last one before the 2.0pre release series.

Do not miss the new GIMP site, taht will soon replace the contents in www.gimp.org: mmaybe.gimp.org .

Other goodies to look foward to in gimp 1.3.x

[Anonymous Coward]

The new improved GUI, complete with easier menus, new docking system, frendlier help.

CMYK support!

Now uses GTK 2, no more ugly fonts, no more GREY, its all in the colour you want!

Hundreds of new plugins, and there is the excellent plug in registry as well. If there isn't a filter you wan't then it can easily be created due to the GIMP's API

Support for standards from the freedesktop project, including thumnails.

The new Docking gui, which allows you to reduce your screen clutter! Just drag and drop those tabs!

Much faster, starts in around 3 seconds, and it uses MMX extentions to accelerate your graphics filters.

Simply put, gimp 1.3.x is really powerful, and Adobe should start to become worried. Remember, if the feature you wan't isn't there, it will be soon due to the extremly rapid development. Even a 0.01 increment == TONS of features!

Also, the "gimp" himself looks a lot cuter in SVG.

I don't mean to gripe but....

[MarcoAtWork]

This is not flamebait, but why instead of focusing development efforts on stuff that has marginal appeal at best, the developers don't try to implement the #1 missing feature in GIMP (for photo retouching, IMHO of course)

Adjustment layers! (with masks)

and no, you can't really 'emulate' them with the currently available toolset unfortunately (remember that they have masks and are non-destructive).

I love GIMP but the absence of this feature (which is not exactly a new thing, even PSPro has it!) is really killing me...

Re: INACCURATE TERMS

[Daengbo]

I don't know. My girlfriend had never used a computer graphics program before Gimp, but was quite an artist. After learning all about it, translating "Grokking the Gimp" into Thai, and teaching courses in it, she says that Photoshop is very confusing for her. So why, again, should Gimp change its interface? Because it's not what you're used to? I find the interface quite refreshing, but I don't use it professionally.
Goy does, though, and she agrees with me.

Re:Nice, but where's the color calibration?

[Jeffrey Baker]

Wow, that would be a neat idea. If only we had an open color management solution for X11 ... we could call is "Xcms" ... when we're done, we'll roll it into a system called "X11R5"! Gosh, it could even support ICC profiles. That would be swell.

(Sorry, unnecessary snarkyness. I agree that there is no good UI, nor tools, for color management in X11. However it should be noted that X11 has complete color management support built-in. It's just that nobody uses it on Linux. I bet if I peeked in SGI's X distribution, it would be loaded with color management features.)

Re:SVG is not the future

[caseih]

IE doesn't support flash either, and it's wide-spread. All you need is to embedd a link to the SVG active-X control and users will pick it up on the fly. No big deal. Average Joe's don't even know flash isn't supported natively. They still use it.

Don't look for any new features in IE for the next several years. By integrating it tightly into the OS and killing it as a standalone product, Microsoft has effectively eliminated all potential innovation in the browser area, since browser releases now equals OS releases. IE 7 won't be out until Longhorn (at least a year away), and even then it won't be widely used as most people will never migrate off XP for the life of their machines.

This is an unprecedented opportunity for Mozilla to win the browser war. Being a standalone installable app (that can run on win98 and up), Mozilla can add new features and support new standards. Just spread the word. Tell your friends. Talk to your favorite web developers.

GUIs are about organization

[plover]

My first exposure to "decent" quality paint programs was Photoshop LE (packaged free with a scanner.) I found the GUI confusing.

I then installed The GIMP. I found its GUI confusing.

I then bought Paint Shop Pro on the recommendation of a digital photography book I respected. Again, I found the GUI confusing, but at least the book got me started on what I should be looking for. I think if I had read such a book about Photoshop earlier I'd probably be a Photoshop fan right now.

I now switch back and forth between The GIMP and Paint Shop Pro. The GIMP does some things better (script-fu is really slick) and PSP does some things better (scratch and dust repair, contrast enhancement.) But I still have to hunt through confusing menus, pop-up toolbar things, etc. I've simply come to expect that any powerful photo editing program is going to have a confusing interface, and that any program is going to take an investment of time to learn. Paint Shop Pro has some hand-holding tutorials that I found to be excellent at getting me up to speed. I'm sure these things exist for the other programs as well.

Anyway, it's all still easier than the old days with a camelhair brush and hand spotting negatives and prints.