Why Another Graphic Format ? - SVG vs Flash
When most people think of Web animation, they think of
Macromedia's Flash. Flash is currently the most widely used
vector graphics and animation format on the web today and
has been established as a standard.
In fact, the new non-proprietary graphic format - SVG
shares many similarities with Flash, such as:
- Both SVG and Flash (.swf) files are vector-based.
- Both SVG files and .swf files can be animated.
- Both currently require plug-ins to view images. However,
browsers will soon have SVG viewing capability.
- Both SVG and .swf files can be zoomed and panned.
- Both SVG and .swf files can contain sound. However,
sound is not currently part of SVG's specifications.
- Both are scriptable, though Flash's Actionscript is
proprietary. SVG can be scripted with Javascript, Java
Bindings, and ActiveX controls.
- Both allow hyperlinking.
- Both have database connectivity.
So why use SVG? One very important thing
to note: the interactive and animated presentations are
just one part of SVG but mostly all of Flash.
Flash is well suited for animation
while with SVG, you can make maps, printing publishing and
much more which is not really good supported by Flash.
SVG's distinct advantages over Flash:
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SVG - an open, royalty-free, multi-vendor
vs. Flash - a closed, single-vendor |
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SVG is a truly open and extensible
format; anyone is welcome to add functionality; Flash
is controlled by Macromedia; you can't extend the
format without violating their patents/copyright
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SVG is easy-readable plain-text, easy-editable
by simple text editor. Flash is in a binary format,
hidden from public view and not 'human readable'. |
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SVG is designed to be
compatible with inexpensive packages such as PHP,
XSLT, JSP and others. Flash need expensive Flash Generator
license for creating large-scale dynamic graphics. |
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SVG supports Photoshop-like filter
effects on vector graphics. Flash doesn't support
filter effects. |
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True XML - SVG offers
all the advantages of XML: |
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- Interoperability
- Internationalization (Unicode support)
- SVG mixes easily with established and emerging
XML standards such as: XHTML, XUL, MathML, XForms
and others
- SVG mixes easily with Web Services; send SVG
diagrams or animations via SOAP messages or create
rich graphical user interfaces for Web Services
- SVG is stylable with CSS - use a single style
language for XHTML, XUL and SVG
- Easy transformation through XML Stylesheet Language
Transformation (XSLT)
- Easy manipulation through standard APIs, such
as the Document Object Model (DOM) API
- Animation with SMIL - use SVG docs in multimedia
SMIL presentations to mix vector graphics with audio
and video
- SVG modules - use SVG Tiny or SVG Basic on mobile-devices
(cell phones, palms, etc.)
With XML at its core and the weight of the standards
community behind it, SVG should prevail as the vector
format of choice. |
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SVG Overview
