[filters] Reusing filter functions as <image>s in CSS

Right now, the Filters spec defines the CSS syntax with a very
simplistic mapping into SVG - every function is normatively defined by
a simple <filter> that takes the entire source element as input.  This
means that the functions themselves don't specify their input, as they
all take a single source image.

This is mostly fine when you're doing the sorts of things that the
'filter' property is meant to do.  It's a problem, though, when you
want to reuse these cool effects (like sepia(), blur(), invert(),
etc.) on images in CSS for use in backgrounds or other places.  I'd
like to see these filter functions also defined in a way that allows
one to apply them to <image> values.

I'm not sure what the best way to go about this is.  A
minimal-disruption route would be to define new <image> values with
functions of the same name that take an <image> argument in addition
to their existing arguments.  I could do this in Image Values 4,
perhaps.

~TJ

Received on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 23:01:38 UTC