Vector Web Graphics
Flash (SWF)
While the Flash format supports vector images, using it is like swatting a fly with a broom! Flash has much more to offer: animation and interactivity specifically. As a stand alone helper for displaying vector graphics, it is no more powerful than PDF. However, its ease of use may make it preferable to PDF.
- Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Flash allow for the creation of vector images and saving as SWF format.
- Use the "EMBED" tag to place your graphic just as if it were an SVG or Flash file.
- Determine the dimensions of your graphic and set them as an attribute inside the "EMBED" tag.
- Certain parameters may need to added, but may not be necessary. View the source in the example for details
- Click here to see an example. (be sure to view source too.)
SVG
This should be the most optimal format for displaying vector graphics in a browser. The Scalable Vector Graphics format is still relatively new, however, and a plug in may still need to be installed for even up-to-date browsers. Nevertheless, SVG holds tremendous potential for Scientific Illustration, Web Typography, and Flash-style interactivity,
- SVG can be developed by hand— using XML (if you miss the old days of hand-coding PostScript.)
- Hopefully SVG will replace bloated Flash kludges as soon as browsers become XML compliant, opening a huge niche for dynamically created web images.
- Otherwise, simply export your graphics from Adobe Illustrator 8 or 9.
- Naturally, SVG files are "EMBED"ded just as the others above, creating a few accessibility issues.
- Click here to see an example (be sure to view source too.)
The SVG Format will allow you to zoom in & out of the figure (make sure you have sized your frame well enough for this!
©2004 MadMac Creations
All recommendations are to be used at the reader's discretion, and is subject to change without notice. While a best effort is made to test software and techniques provided, the reader is advised to test thoroughly prior to implementation. MadMac Creations takes no responsibility for any losses accrued, unless Tony MacFarlane has been contracted.
