Tools

SVG Validator

A validator service (and downloadable tool) is provided by the W3C. It will complain about sodipodi or inkscape namespaced items in the document, unless you've exported to plain SVG.

SVG::Metadata

Perl module and set of scripts to help in adding and processing metadata in SVG files.

Autotrace and Frontline

Autotrace an open source vectorization program by Martin Weber. That means you can convert bitmap images (like scans) to vector graphics. While not optimal for photos, it does good job on line art and poster-like images. Doesn't do too well with color.

Autotrace has some features not available in the embedded Potrace dialog in Inkscape. For example, there is a centerline switch that is especially usefull for tracing roads (in maps) or font characters.

Frontline is GUI frontend to Autotrace by Masatake Yamato. Frontline can be run as standalone aplication, but it can also be directly accessed from Inkscape and GIMP.

If you want to have tracing option, you have to install both Autotrace and rontline before compiling Inkscape. Inkscape automatically detects these programs, and adds inline raster to vector conversion option to image menu.

Both autotrace and frontline can be downloaded from Sourceforge. Binaries are available for windows and linux.

Potrace

Potrace is now embedded into Inkscape. You don't need to run it separately.

• Using Potrace through Inkscape
• Potrace page at Sourceforge

Delineate

Front end written in java that does interesting things with color images.

• Delineate at Sourceforge

ill2svg

ill2svg (Illustrator to SVG) is a small script that helps turn Adobe Illustrator .ai files into SVG. While it doesn't always do a perfect job, it can sometimes be of great help.

To use the program, just type:

ill2svg.pl [-l "string" -h] infile > outfile.svg

options: 
    -l specify the file's line-ending convention: dos, mac,
    or unix; the default is unix

    -h print this message and exit

gimp2sodipodi

Shandy Brown has assembled a somewhat obscure but useful set of tools to get from GIMP to Sodipodi (and thus to Inkscape). That is, convert raster to vector.

• gimp2sodipodi instructions.

GIMP

GIMP is a bitmap graphics tool in the first place, but:

• it imports SVG (with help of librsvg) into bitmap or vector path, exports SVG.
• GIMP's selection can be converted to a vector path, and paths can be exported/imported as SVG.

GIMP can be used to create nice textures to use in Inkscape or shapes that can be vectorized in Inkscape. Importing SVG drawings from Inkscape to GIMP allows you to do several effects by filling and stroking shapes.

There is a limited support for drag'n'drop between GIMP and Inkscape:

• path, can be drag'n'droped from Gimp path dialog to Inkscape
• pictures can be drag'n'droped from Gimp document history to Inkscape if it's in a file format that Inkscape understands.

• gimp.org

Linux Video Editing System

LIVES is the Linux Video Editing System that permits editing and making video without worries about formats, frame sizes, or frame rates. It doesn't support SVG directly yet, but you can create animated works by moving your shapes in Inkscape and exporting as numbered png's.

• LIVES