Inkscape Wiki - User contributions [en]

Current PDF Support

2006-11-10T22:36:18Z

Daniele: /* Use of Gnulibplot */

== Current PDF support ==

=== PDF Import ===

There is currently no support to automatically import PDF files in Inkscape.

=== PDF Export ===

<code>pdf_output.inx</code> exports PDF files by first saving them as Postscript and use an external converter to creat PDFs.

Requirements:
* <code>ps2pdf</code> (Installed separately)

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

== Current Postscript support ==

=== PS Import ===

<code>ps_input.inx</code> imports Postscript files by using two external conversion scripts:

Requirements:
* <code>pstoedit</code> (Installed separately)
* <code>skconvert</code> (Installed separately)

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

=== PS Export ===

Inkscape has built-in support to write Postscript files.

Strengths:
* Outputs nice readable Postscript

Weaknesses:
* Doesn't support fill patterns and clipping, see bugs 1208874 and 1170322
* Postscript doesn't support transparency and Inkscape doesn't emulate this, so they are just ignored, that is you get the color you would get with opacity:1

== Current Adobe Illustrator support ==

The files used by [[AdobeIllustrator]] were earlier postscript files but are now Pdf files.

=== AI Import ===

Requirements:
* <code>ill2svg.pl</code> requires perl

Strengths:

Weaknesses:
* Only works on the old Postscript-based Adobe format
* Code is sort of a hack
* No maintainer exists for this code

=== AI Export ===

<code>ai_output.inx</code> exports Illustrator files by first saving them as Postscript and use an external converter to creat AIs.

Requirements:
* <code>ps2ai.ps</code> (requires gs)

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

=== Use of Gnulibplot ===

A short way for converting files to import in Inkscape is to use
gsview and the command "edit/convert to vector format" to convert any pdf to svg. Easy and fast to use.

Current PDF Support

2006-11-10T22:35:44Z

Daniele:

== Current PDF support ==

=== PDF Import ===

There is currently no support to automatically import PDF files in Inkscape.

=== PDF Export ===

<code>pdf_output.inx</code> exports PDF files by first saving them as Postscript and use an external converter to creat PDFs.

Requirements:
* <code>ps2pdf</code> (Installed separately)

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

== Current Postscript support ==

=== PS Import ===

<code>ps_input.inx</code> imports Postscript files by using two external conversion scripts:

Requirements:
* <code>pstoedit</code> (Installed separately)
* <code>skconvert</code> (Installed separately)

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

=== PS Export ===

Inkscape has built-in support to write Postscript files.

Strengths:
* Outputs nice readable Postscript

Weaknesses:
* Doesn't support fill patterns and clipping, see bugs 1208874 and 1170322
* Postscript doesn't support transparency and Inkscape doesn't emulate this, so they are just ignored, that is you get the color you would get with opacity:1

== Current Adobe Illustrator support ==

The files used by [[AdobeIllustrator]] were earlier postscript files but are now Pdf files.

=== AI Import ===

Requirements:
* <code>ill2svg.pl</code> requires perl

Strengths:

Weaknesses:
* Only works on the old Postscript-based Adobe format
* Code is sort of a hack
* No maintainer exists for this code

=== AI Export ===

<code>ai_output.inx</code> exports Illustrator files by first saving them as Postscript and use an external converter to creat AIs.

Requirements:
* <code>ps2ai.ps</code> (requires gs)

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

=== Use of Gnulibplot ===

a short way for converting files to import in Inkscape is to use
gsview and the command "edit/convert to vector format" to convert any pdf to svg. easy to use.

CadInteroperability

2006-11-10T22:32:53Z

Daniele:

== CAD Interoperability ==

Computer-aided design (CAD) is another particular application for 2D vector graphics. A difference
between CAD and other types of drawing is that precision is extremely important. Another difference
is the need for dimensioning of items in the drawing. Workflow can also be very different between CAD
and other vector drawing uses. Because of these reasons, Inkscape is unlikely to ever be useful as
a CAD tool directly.

However, being able to import CAD drawings for final cleanup/rendering, or to mock up some ideas
before putting into CAD, may be of use. The de factor standard exchange format for CAD programs
is DXF. Having support for this format suddenly opens up interoperability with a huge range of other
applications, including not only 2D CAD such as qcad, but also 3D rendering programs such as
Blender, etc.

A nice workaround to import cad drawings in Inkscape could be the following:
1. create a pdf via pdf creator (gpl'ed - windows) or via any other distiller
2. open it Gsview and use the command "convert to vector format" via GnuLibplot
to convert it in SVG format.
3. the file is ready for Inkscape.

As an alternative, you can use the command line for pstoedit or GnuLibplot, but they are much more tricky to install under windows.

[[Category:Developer Discussion]]