Several weeks ago, I received an email from Doug Larson, the owner of Inspire Graphics. He wanted me to pass on this message to you but I couldn't figure out an appropriate time to put it out. I realize now that I should have just posted it the very next day. I'm sorry, Doug, that I didn't post this sooner.
This is Doug's message to you, the customers of Lettering Delights:
Thank you for your feedback and comments. We are working to make our SVG files as user-friendly as possible. Please note that this format is emerging as one for use with cutting machines, and the software out there (Make-the-Cut and Sure Cuts A Lot and others) have yet to utilize some of the things we have built into our files. Please forgive me if this gets a little technical:
SVG or Scalable Vector Graphics, are XML based files, meaning that you can open them up in a text program and actually see the “guts.” This is very advantageous in a lot of ways. For one, you can place key words and titles in each of the files. We have actually done this with our files, although the software programs out there do not yet recognize it. My guess is that in the near future, one (if not all) of these programs will notice the embedded information and give the user access to it. This was a bit risky on our part, but we felt that we needed have some vision as to what the trends would be and be at the cutting edge from the get go.
The same goes for each of the “layers.” When we create them, the shapes are put into individual layers. However, the programs do not recognize each layer. They only group them together, which is quite different, as you know. At this point, the only way to layer them would be to create them in the native formats of the programs (scal, mtc, etc.) We are confident that the developers of the programs out there will recognize the standard we have set for SVGs and implement access soon. At this point, we are not working directly with any of these companies (but that may change in the future). I would keep your eye open for updates.
SVG or Scalable Vector Graphics, are XML based files, meaning that you can open them up in a text program and actually see the “guts.” This is very advantageous in a lot of ways. For one, you can place key words and titles in each of the files. We have actually done this with our files, although the software programs out there do not yet recognize it. My guess is that in the near future, one (if not all) of these programs will notice the embedded information and give the user access to it. This was a bit risky on our part, but we felt that we needed have some vision as to what the trends would be and be at the cutting edge from the get go.
The same goes for each of the “layers.” When we create them, the shapes are put into individual layers. However, the programs do not recognize each layer. They only group them together, which is quite different, as you know. At this point, the only way to layer them would be to create them in the native formats of the programs (scal, mtc, etc.) We are confident that the developers of the programs out there will recognize the standard we have set for SVGs and implement access soon. At this point, we are not working directly with any of these companies (but that may change in the future). I would keep your eye open for updates.
In the meantime, I know that Inkscape is a program that works well with SVG files. It maintains the colors and layering (for the most part). The keywords are of no use here, but it may be something to play with, nonetheless.
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Got to love when people use words like "vision" and "update"! Almost always good news for us :)
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to see forward thinking! I like the direction this is going! Hope the software developers are paying attention!
ReplyDeleteHmm. It may be time to open a few of these in inkscape and see how it looks different. Maybe this is how they will let us know about those weird looking cuts that turn into WONDERFUL cards.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting Jin. Sounds very promising!
ReplyDeleteJin, do you know if he's contacted Todd & Andy? I would think if he wants SCAL & MTC to use the features they are including, it might be a good idea to let them know they are there and not just hope they notice them.
ReplyDeleteI'm confused :-? I guess I need to play around with my new svgs on practice paper tonight and see what happens.
ReplyDelete