Below is the README file that is included in the download of SVGpage. The program also comes with built-in help pages that explain its usage in greater detail.

SVGpage An SVG viewer/converter/renderer by Paul Sherman -------------------------------------------------------- Start the binary version by running "SVGpage" -------------------------------------------------------- Binary runs on a default install of Ubuntu-5.10 and my bastardized Slackware 10.2/current/custom. --------------------------------------------------------- SVGpage is a pyGTK application to view and convert to and from vector (SVG) graphics. In addition to SVG files the application is able to open PNG, GIF, JPG (including Exif), BMP and XPM. It can save as SVG, PNG or JPG. If you are looking for an SVG editor capable of creating fine, crisp curves and gradients, you've got the wrong program. For simple graphics SVGpage can convert to SVG and render something very close. For involved images, like pictures, you wind up with a PAINTERLY EFFECT. This effect can be very distinctive and attractive and is sought after by many. Sort of a good, single-click "GIMPressionist." So if that's what you're looking for, you've found it. SVGpage can also take your SVG images and convert them to a PNG or a JPG. Even resize them. It uses Bilinear Interpolation and does an excellent job. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can use SVG-page as a simple image viewer that can render SVGs, but most will be using it to convert back and forth from raster(png, jpeg, etc) to SVG. It makes very nice quality rasters from SVGs. And as mentioned on the autotrace tab -- does OK with simple graphics to SVG, and makes what many find a desireable painterly effect from photos. Some examples are included in the distribution folder along with SVG-page. Check out what is there and play with thew settings to get a feel. A couple things to note: Starting with larger rasters will yield smoother curves and gradients when rendered as SVGs. Although this can vary with individual images, as well as the desired effect. To save time openning an external graphics editor all the time, there are "Save Half-Size" and "Save Double-Size" menu items which will alter the size of the displayed raster image (saved in a temporary file) -- so subsequent calls to "Render as SVG" will have a larger or smaller image to start with. If you are NOT interested in making SVGs with a painterly effect, then the suggestions for alternate editor programs include: Inkscape http://www.inkscape.org/ Sodipodi http://www.sodipodi.com/ Skencil http://www.nongnu.org/skencil/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SVG-page will open JPG (including exif), PNG, BMP, GIF, XPM and SVG images. All but the SVG are viwed in the "raster Image" panel, while SVGs are displayed in -- you guessed it -- the "SVG Image" panel. New images are loaded with the File -> Open menu. Images are scaled into the appropriate viewing panel at a size no larger than 200x200 pixels. If you wish to see the "real"image, that is, full-scale, then simple use the: View -> Full-Size PNG or View -> Full-Size SVG Any raster type will be opened in a separate window with the "Full-Size PNG" menu. If it is too big for the screen the opened window will have scrollbars to make things more convenient. Same goes for SVGs. You can double or half the size of Raster images with: Save -> Raster Half-Size or Save -> Raster Double-Size The resized image is saved into a temporary file. Always as a PNG. This eases some possible later rendering actions, so the menu was titled PNG to reflect this fact, but you may also save it as a JPG. The listing is under: Save -> save Raster -> Save As... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rendering is accomplished via autotrace. Simply click the: "Render As SVG" button And the currently displayed raster image will be converted to an SVG. There is a whole column of parameters you can play with to influence the output of the rendering. The most common general setings are already the defaults. The most dramatic setting is on the top of the parameter list at the far right of the main window -- DESPECKLE LEVEL. The Full-Size of the original raster image can affect the quality and "smoothness" of the resulting SVG. This is most noticeable with gradients and curves. For an example, try rendering "circles200.png" and also try "circles." Circles is a much larger image, and the resulting SVGs are quite different. The smaller image rendered looks very "broken up", while the larger image rendered looks very close to the original. If tweaking the render parameters is giving you an image that is too choppy -- try saving double-size and then render. Or save double-size a couple times. Want to save the results of rendering as a PNG or a JPG? Then "Convert to PNG", then "Save->save Raster->As a... whatever.