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Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
SVG is a specification for an XML based vector graphics file format. It is an open standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). SVG supports both static illustration, as well as interactive (scripted) or even animated content. This technology can be found in most modern browsers nowadays, and can be embedded in html documents. For example the d3.js framework uses SVG extensively to generate it’s graphics. As an example Figure 3 shows a graph generated by d3, where the graphics are composed entirely by SVG elements. Figure 3: d3.js Graph
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Feature Proposal Introduction
A drawing in Inkscape is made up of objects, like shown in Figure 4. The balloon is made up of 3 separate objects, one for the rope, one for the balloon and one for the highlight in the top right corner. Furthermore Inkscape allows to bundle a set of objects together in a group, which behaves just like a single object. There exists already tools, that allow to align selected objects on the vertical/horizontal axis, as well as arrange them on a grid. Few other tools exists, such as one that randomizes object positions, Figure 4: Inkscape Objects or separates overlapping objects. There is however no quick way to lay out objects along a circle. I propose a tool, that allows to dispose the selected objects in a circular way. The following image shows an example, where this new feature would be useful:
(a) Input
(b) Output
Figure 5: Usage Example As you may see in Figure 4, several copies of the same object are laid out on the circle provided as input. This is just one usage example, in the following section, I would like to show some more usages and only afterwards talk about the technicalities.
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