Generating PNGs from SVG

Hristo Milev · **Joined:** Jun 14, 2016 **Posts:** 5

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

Hey,

I want to programmatically edit some very simple predefined SVG or other vector files and then generate PNGs from them. Need just to scale, change some basic colors, and make gradients without touching the shape of the vector image at all.

I wonder which is the best approach. To use SVG or some specific GIMP files... exported shapes?

The antialiasing is important too. The outputted PNGs must be as crisp as possible. When I open an SVG in GIMP under Windows, it applies some very nice antialiasing to the shape, but when I colorpick it, it gets pixelated or the semitransparent pixels are not affected.

As I mentioned above, the process will be running entirely in CLI mode under CentOS.

Any thoughts?

Wallace · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2016 5:18 am **(#2)**

Hristo Milev wrote:

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

Hey,

I want to programmatically edit some very simple predefined SVG
or other vector files and then generate PNGs from them.
Need just to scale,
change some basic colors,
and make gradients without touching the shape of the vector image at all.

I wonder which is the best approach.
To use SVG or some specific GIMP files... exported shapes?

The antialiasing is important too.
The outputted PNGs must be as crisp as possible.
When I open an SVG in GIMP under Windows,
it applies some very nice antialiasing to the shape,
but when I colorpick it,
it gets pixelated or the semitransparent pixels are not affected.

As I mentioned above,
the process will be running entirely in CLI mode under CentOS.

Any thoughts?

You might want to look into using Inkscape,
which is primarily a vector based graphics program.

ofnuts · **Joined:** Oct 25, 2010 **Posts:** 4739

ImageMagick's convert command will convert a SVG to PNG, it can be as as simple as:

Code: Select all

convert image.svg image.png

For more comple stuff there is very comprehnsive set of options. In general IM is your tool of choice for all CLI/Batch image manipulation.

Hristo Milev · **Joined:** Jun 14, 2016 **Posts:** 5

Now I realized there will be some corner rounding and therefore using SVG is a must. It has easy to edit XML syntax.

I need to get some Linux running on my wreck. My current machine is more than 10 years old, but a German made - top notch and immortal.

Thanks for the answers. About ImageMagick - I decided to use GIMP long time ago. I guess you are used to ImageMagick but it's not a good solution for me. BTW can you edit histograms with ImageMagick?

ofnuts · **Joined:** Oct 25, 2010 **Posts:** 4739

Hristo Milev wrote:

Now I realized there will be some corner rounding and therefore using SVG is a must. It has easy to edit XML syntax.

I need to get some Linux running on my wreck. My current machine is more than 10 years old, but a German made - top notch and immortal.

Thanks for the answers. About ImageMagick - I decided to use GIMP long time ago. I guess you are used to ImageMagick but it's not a good solution for me. BTW can you edit histograms with ImageMagick?

I do all my interactive stuff with Gimp. For CLI, IM ends up being easier and more efficient in 99% of the cases (and I'm not that much used to it). You can likely apply curves to your image (if this is what you mean by "edit histogram"). But this is GimpChat, not IMChat, you'll get much more informed answers on the IM forums.

PegLeg44 · **Joined:** Feb 14, 2012 **Posts:** 426

Hristo Milev wrote:

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

Hey,

I want to programmatically edit some very simple predefined SVG or other vector files and then generate PNGs from them. Need just to scale, change some basic colors, and make gradients without touching the shape of the vector image at all.

I wonder which is the best approach. To use SVG or some specific GIMP files... exported shapes?

The antialiasing is important too. The outputted PNGs must be as crisp as possible. When I open an SVG in GIMP under Windows, it applies some very nice antialiasing to the shape, but when I colorpick it, it gets pixelated or the semitransparent pixels are not affected.

As I mentioned above, the process will be running entirely in CLI mode under CentOS.

Any thoughts?

If you were to use a script like this one on Post #41 of this thread
that is called path_to_darken_layer.scm it will make a layer with NO antialiased edges that you can apply color to or gradients. You could just disable the line 8 of the script that turns the layer to darken only mode. It would be an easy way to make non aliased layers, that have the Lock Alpha Channel enabled, and are cropped to layer size. Simply have the path highlighted and use the script from the script fu tab. That's what it sounds like your trying to do I think.