Scalable Vector Graphics requirements document

If you create graphics for the Web, chances are that you already do lots
of work in a drawing or illustration package and then have to convert it
to an image that browsers can understand ... you have probably wished
the Web understood vector formats. 

And no doubt you already know about XML. You have probably already heard
about PGML, VML, Web Schematics, GUHU ... and other XML-based ways of
describing vector and mixed vector/raster graphics. And perhaps wondered
what W3C might be doing in that area.

There has been strong interest among W3C members in this area, and
strong initial feedback from the web designer community that an
XML-based vector graphics standard would be great for the Web - as long
as there was only one such standard and it was the same in all browsers
and implemented widely in authoring tools.

So, W3C recently formed a working group to develop such a Scalable
Vector Graphics specification. The first thing we did was write a
requirements document, which is now available [1] and we would very much
like your feedback on this - does it do what you want? is it too simple,
too complex, missing some essential feature? If your favourite drawing
package supported it and the browsers understood it, would you imagine
using this forthcoming SVG format instead of creating a JPEG, GIF or PNG
version?

There is an archived mail list [2] where comments can be sent, and you
can subscribe if you want to take part in discussions. The W3C working
group will be monitoring this list.

[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-SVGReq
[2] mailto:www-svg@w3.org

--
Chris Lilley
Chair, W3C SVG working group
chris@w3.org

Received on Tuesday, 3 November 1998 20:19:54 UTC