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SVG Essentials
Scalable Vector Graphics -- or SVG -- is the new XML-based graphics standard from the W3C that will enable Web documents to be smaller, faster and more interactive. J. David Eisenberg's insightful book takes you through the ins and outs of SVG, beginning with basics needed to create simple line drawings and then moving through more complicated features like filters, transformations, and integration with Java, Perl, and XSLT.
Unlike GIFs, JPEGs or PNGs (which are bitmapped), SVG images are both resolution- and device-independent, so that they can scale up or down to fit proportionally into any size display or any Internet device -- from PDAs to large office monitors and high-resolution printers. Smaller than bitmapped files and faster to download, SVG images can be rendered with different CSS styles for each environment. They work well across a range of available bandwidths.
SVG makes it possible for designers to escape the constant need to update graphics by hand or use custom code to generate bitmap images. And while SVG was created with the Web in mind, the language has a variety of other uses. SVG greatly simplifies tasks like: Creating web sites whose graphics reflect the content of the page, changing automatically if the content changes Generating graphs and charts from information stored in a wide variety of sources Exchanging detailed drawings, from architectural plans to CAD layouts to project management diagrams Creating diagrams that users can explore by zooming in and panning around Generating bitmap images for use in older browsers using simple automatable templates Managing graphics that support multiple languages or translations Creating complex animation
By focusing sharply on the markup at the foundation of SVG, "SVG Essentials" gives you a solid base on which to create your own custom tools. Explanations of key technical tools -- like XML, matrix math, and scripting -- are included as appendices, along with a reference to the SVG vocabulary.
Whether you're a graphic designer in search of new tools or a programmer dealing with the complex task of creating and managing graphics, SVG Essentials provides you with the means to take advantage of SVG.
Unlike GIFs, JPEGs or PNGs (which are bitmapped), SVG images are both resolution- and device-independent, so that they can scale up or down to fit proportionally into any size display or any Internet device -- from PDAs to large office monitors and high-resolution printers. Smaller than bitmapped files and faster to download, SVG images can be rendered with different CSS styles for each environment. They work well across a range of available bandwidths.
SVG makes it possible for designers to escape the constant need to update graphics by hand or use custom code to generate bitmap images. And while SVG was created with the Web in mind, the language has a variety of other uses. SVG greatly simplifies tasks like: Creating web sites whose graphics reflect the content of the page, changing automatically if the content changes Generating graphs and charts from information stored in a wide variety of sources Exchanging detailed drawings, from architectural plans to CAD layouts to project management diagrams Creating diagrams that users can explore by zooming in and panning around Generating bitmap images for use in older browsers using simple automatable templates Managing graphics that support multiple languages or translations Creating complex animation
By focusing sharply on the markup at the foundation of SVG, "SVG Essentials" gives you a solid base on which to create your own custom tools. Explanations of key technical tools -- like XML, matrix math, and scripting -- are included as appendices, along with a reference to the SVG vocabulary.
Whether you're a graphic designer in search of new tools or a programmer dealing with the complex task of creating and managing graphics, SVG Essentials provides you with the means to take advantage of SVG.
364 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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February 28, 2020[click on image to see the full-size SVG]
... even without reading this or any other book on Scalable Vector Graphics. All you want & need to know is readily available on the internet. So why shell out your hard earned money for books like this?
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
... even without reading this or any other book on Scalable Vector Graphics. All you want & need to know is readily available on the internet. So why shell out your hard earned money for books like this?
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
February 9, 2012
When I first look for materials to educate myself about SVG, I initially avoid Eisenberg's book. It is already 10 years old, so I assume this must be somewhat obsoleted. I was completely wrong. SVG essential is a definitive guide on the subject today even 10 years after it is published. It introduces readers to wide range of capability of SVG. The language is matured and change little. The biggest difference today is we can embedded SVG directly inside HTML and it has much better browser support. So everything in the book has only becomes more useful.
I urge all reader to learn about SVG. It is an insanely powerful tools for vector graphics that has been sidelined for too long. SVG Essentials is an excellent guide to introduce you to this technology.
I urge all reader to learn about SVG. It is an insanely powerful tools for vector graphics that has been sidelined for too long. SVG Essentials is an excellent guide to introduce you to this technology.
August 16, 2017
I bit dry at times, but it does the job.
October 12, 2023
This was a good introduction to SVG. Honestly, I have been using SVG for quite some time so most of this was a refresher. Being that it was written in 2002, there were lots of very old references. Chrome didn't exists, SVG support in browsers was bleak. The book has PERL and Java examples to generate SVGs. The appendices include introductions to XML and CSS. Finally, the book repeatedly mentions upcoming changes in SVG 2.0 that will fix some things, which, as of the day of this writing, is still being worked on.
May 29, 2018
I've owned the Paper edition of the book for years; the kindle edition is even more useful because of its searchability.
May 24, 2020
God damn I love SVGs.
March 12, 2022
It somehow resembles Eric A. Meyer's CSS: The Definitive Guide though it is not as good as this CSS bible.
But very comprehensive, detailed, and dry. I like it!
But very comprehensive, detailed, and dry. I like it!
December 26, 2012
Good enough overview of how SVG works under the hood. I only wish it covered transforms better.
August 13, 2019
My constant companion for M450
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews