Importing Vector Drawings
From Scribus Documentation Project
Contents |
SVG
Although SVG was not exclusively designed with printing in mind, it does have some major advantages: it is vector-based, and fully documented (World Wide Web Consortium [W3C] recommendation),ENDNOTE so that it can be regarded as an open source and useful alternative to EPS, AI and CDR. SVG supports vectors of course, but also bitmaps, text, effects, scripting, and animation, and has subparts written to make it more reliable for certain kinds of outputs such as small screens (mobile phone, PDA...), or pre-press (SVG::print).ENDNOTE Scribus supports the SVG specifications 1.0 and 1.1 to some degree.
The development of SVG started between 1998 and 2000, when Adobe and Sun (with PGML) on the one hand and Macromedia and Microsoft (with VML) on the other hand were unable to muster enough support for a W3C recommendation for either form of markup language. The result was the creation of a new format incorporating elements of both PGML and VML, which quickly won approval. SVG 1.0 was completed in 2001, and SVG 1.1 in 2003. SVG Tiny (for mobile devices) became a recommendation in 2006.
SVG is not yet as widely used as some other vector formats (EPS, AI, SWF), only because of the lack of software able to create or display all current features. Now that all browsers (except for Internet Explorer) support it, things have begun to change, so that it should begin to be seen as a mature alternative to proprietary formats (note that Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw support SVG, and Inkscape even uses SVG as its native file format).
Advantages
SVG
- is an open standard
- is platform-independent
- is XML-based like the Scribus or OpenDocument formats
- supports color management
- is light-weight
Furthermore, there are free software programs that have good support of SVG, especially Inkscape.
Whenever you are creating logos, icons, charts, maps, or other documents that need to be dynamically resizable, SVG can be your format of choice.
Importing SVG
From the menu, select File > Import SVG… SVG files can have the file extension .svg/.SVG and .svgz/.SVGZ (the z indicates a compressed version of SVG). In contrast to bitmap images, you do not need to create a frame. Scribus will convert the SVG file to a native vector drawing instead. Depending on the content, you may get a message telling you, that some features may not be implemented in Scribus. Click on the page to place the SVG drawing. Moving and resizing are similar to what you see with frames, but most SVGs will consist of a number of vector graphic elements, much like a group of polygons.
Known Issues
SVG is a complex and evolving standard. Some features aren't yet fully supported in Scribus, and others, like animation, will never be – for obvious reasons. Presently, some deficiencies include:
- Some text styles
- Some gradient styles
- Masking and clipping
- Embedded images
- SVGs which are not well-formed. If all tags and structures are not correct or the SVG is corrupted in some other way, the plug-in may crash.
- Animations, multi-media and “extensions” or proprietary tags within SVG, which can only be viewed with certain viewers.
Modifying SVG drawings
Since SVG files are natively supported, this means that:
- Colors of the imported SVG will be added to the color list of the document. Their names will begin with “FromSVG”, so that you can re-use those colors for other objects.
- SVG paths can be modified in Scribus after “ungrouping” (Item > Ungroup) the imported vector item, and then clicking the Edit Shape button of in the Shape tab of the Properties Palette. See Working With Shapes and PolygonsENDNOTE for more details on editing vector drawings in Scribus.
| Note that text in vector graphics should always be converted to outlines in the program that creates them, either with the tools available for that purpose or during export. |
PostScript/EPS
Encapsulated PostScriptENDNOTE is a subset of the PostScriptENDNOTE format made to exchange PostScript data between applications. Both formats have been developed by Adobe Systems Inc., and some time ago became the main file formats for sophisticated printing processes. EPS can be considered as a PostScript file describing a single page.
The last major update of the EPS specification was released in 1992, and the latest PostScript specification is from 1997. Since then, PDF has become an alternative standard, so that EPS has consequently lost some its importance. Nonetheless, the use of EPS remains widespread, so being able to manage this format is essential in DTP.
PostScript files usually have the file extension .ps/.PS. Most EPS files use .eps/.EPS, but there are also some other (older) extensions, namely .epsf/.EPSF, .epsi/.EPSI, .ept/.EPT, .epi/.EPI, .eps2/EPS2, .eps3/.EPS3. If you want use files with those extensions, you have to rename them to *.eps or *.EPS – otherwise, Scribus won't recognize them.
EPS Import in Scribus
To improve your chances of successfully importing EPS/PS files it helps to have three ingredients:
- An EPS/PS file which conforms to the published specifications. Not all applications export EPS files with the same level of fidelity, nor do all embed fonts properly.
- The latest Ghostscript available for your platform.
- Where an EPS file has fonts embedded, ensure that Ghostscript's font paths are set up correctly. This is mostly for folks using Linux or *NIX with X-Windows. Windows and MacOSX users will not need to worry so much about font configuration with Ghostscript.
There are two basic methods of importing EPS files and both have pluses and minuses. The first and most often preferred method is to import the EPS into Scribus as native objects via File > Import > Import EPS/PS. The second is simply importing the EPS file into an image frame.ENDNOTE This means the file will be rasterized or turned into a bitmap like a TIFF or JPEG. This method may be the only possibility if the EPS file has embedded images.
Importing Hints
A recommended way to import EPS/PS files in to Scribus is to simply create a new document via File > Open. Select EPS/PS from the drop down in the file dialog. Then directly import the EPS/PS file. This creates a new document in which the page size is automatically calculated from the EPS bounding box. Save this temporarily under a file name.
Then, re-open the target document for import. Create a new layer and then use the page import function to import your newly created document into the new layer in your existing document. This prevents any of the imported elements from disturbing existing objects and allows you to place with precision where you want the file.
Other EPS/PS Hints
- If you are using Adobe Illustrator 9.0+, it is recommended that you save in Illustrator 7 or an older format. The reason is that Illustrator 9.0 or later actually uses PDF as a native format and embeds quite a bit of Adobe-specific info in the EPS which can cause difficulties when importing (Scribus is not alone with this issue.).
- You are well advised if possible to separate images from vector and import only the vector artwork as EPS. See below.
- Scribus can import multi-page PS files via File > Open. Scribus will create as many pages as the PostScript file contains, but for PostScript files which are purely text this is not recommended. Currently, text is converted to outlines on import. If you need the text contained within the PostScript file you can use GSview to extract the text or the command line tool ps2ascii which comes with Ghostscript. This tool works on Windows and OSX as well.
- If your platform supports it, GSview is recommend above all other PostScript viewers for diagnosing and previewing PostScript. While the display is not color managed, it will generally help to diagnose issues with importing in Scribus.
Importing EPS as Native Scribus Objects
Importing EPS as Scribus native objects, when possible, does have some advantages. First, they are all vectors, so file size and exported PDF size are relatively small. It makes them resolution independent, so they can be re-scaled without losing crispness in printing. The bonus is you can edit the graphical elements like lines, polygons and curves natively.
To import an EPS file as a native Scribus Object, click File > Import > Import EPS/PS and select the EPS. If you have previews enabled in the file chooser, large complex EPS file may take some time to render. Then left-click to drop the cursor where you want to place the file. Once dropped on the canvas, the EPS file objects are grouped. You will need to ungroup them to edit individual objects. To scale an imported EPS proportionally, select the lower right corner and Ctrl + Left Click Drag up or down as needed.
Importing EPS files with Embedded Raster Graphics
Scribus can import EPS files which contain embedded raster graphics (bitmaps). However, this works far better with Ghostscript 8.50 or later, and there are some limitations:
- Image mask doesn't work correctly
- Clipping paths are ignored
- Importing will create one file (a TIFF) for each bitmap and there can be many within an EPS.
Importing EPS as an Image
When you wish to import an EPS into Scribus and it has a mix of text, images and vector, importing the file as an image is the only real option. Importing in this manner, provided the fonts are correctly embedded, usually works very reliably and will maintain fidelity to the CMYK colors defined in the EPS. On initial import, Scribus will ignore any embedded preview bitmaps and will generate its own low resolution preview of the EPS. If nothing displays, this is a hint something is not working correctly in the import and needs closer inspection. When exporting to PDF, the EPS is rerun through Ghostscript and it is embedded into the PDF, so do not be surprised about long PDF export times or high memory usage.
Troubleshooting EPS Import
As mentioned above, EPS export quality from other applications can vary widely. Some applications like to add their own ingredients to the sauce – unfortunately. The first step for testing a failed import is to open the file in GSview, then press M to watch the messages from Ghostscript as it attempts to open the file. When you have a failure in GSview, the messages can be sometime cryptic, but they are a helpful pointer to see what may be the problem.
OpenOffice.org Draw/OpenDocument Graphics
Just like OpenOffice.org Writer and OpenDocument Text files, OpenOffice.org Draw and OpenDocument Graphics files are sets of XML and other files, like images, which are compressed in a single file. Scribus can import both file formats, but you have various choices, depending on the content. The most promising of them are native .sxd/.odg import and exported EPS files from OpenOffice.org Draw.
For most drawings, import of native files works very well. Very complex Draw files have been tested, which imported flawlessly. In some cases, especially with gradients, it may be preferable to test exporting EPS, with the settings further down. You should test both methods of export for best quality not only on screen, but by exporting a PDF and then zooming with Adobe Acrobat Reader after creating a PDF in Scribus is a recommended quality check.
Caveats
- It is important to note that Draw 3D objects do not export well, as they are limited to screen resolution. They do not print well in most cases and will appear pixellated at print resolutions. They should be avoided in vector drawings that are designed for printing.
- Not all shapes in OpenOffice.org Draw 2.x are supported. Contours and callouts do not currently work natively. The workaround is to go Edit > Select All in Draw and then right click the selection, then choose Convert to Curves or Convert to Polygons depending on the kind of content.
- Most curves, polygons and bezier shapes are imported without issues. The same applies for star shapes, ellipses and markers – a type of line with arrows.
- Text effects should be avoided in preference to doing them natively in Scribus which has very versatile text effects.
Importing Formulas
The most reliable way is to save your formula as desired and close Math. Then open OpenOffice.org Draw and create a new file. Then click Insert Object > Formula. You will have a tiny embedded square on Draw's canvas. Then, right-click the embedded object and select “Edit Object”. Draw will launch Math now. In Math, select Tools > Import Formula and browse to your saved formula. Then save to close the file and the embedded formula is now scalable in Draw with the context menus. Save this Draw file, then export as EPS and import into Scribus. The formulas and text will import as a grouped objects of scalable vector items. Any text is imported as outlines as well. This will result in formulas which will print with very high quality and little worries when exported as PDF. Saving the Draw file and attempting to import the Draw file with embedded objects will fail, as Scribus cannot access those object directly.
You can also use OpenOffice.org Draw to import complex tables from Writer or Calc into Scribus. See the chapter about tables for more information.
EPS Export in OpenOffice.org Draw
Below are the recommended EPS export settings for all versions of OO.org Draw:
By using the settings above and a recent Ghostscript (8.50 or higher), you might encounter at most minor difficulties importing files from OpenOffice.org. Even then, ungrouping the import and minor touching up is easily done. The most noticeable issue is some lines on charts or freehand lines, which are too thin when viewed as imported EPS in Scribus, but a quick adjustment of the size of the line with the Properties Palette sets things right.
WMF
Although WMF (Windows Metafile) vector graphics should be of little to no significance in the realm of professional printing, they are nonetheless ubiquitous in the Microsoft-dominated “Office” world. Sooner or later Scribus users are therefore likely to need a way to import them. Scribus doesn't support WMF yet, but actually it doesn't need to, since there are two easy workarounds for the issue.
WMF files were introduced with Windows 3.0, and they're closely tied to the Windows Graphics Layer (GDI). They are 16-bit files and thus their capabilities are quite limited compared to formats like PS/EPS/SVG. There is an extended version of the format that uses 32 bit, called EMF (Enhanced Metafile), but like its 16-bit twin, it does not so far play any role in professional graphics design.
Option 1: Inkscape
Inkscape's import of WMF is quite mature, and most WMF files can be imported without issues. If you absolutely need to get a WMF file into Scribus, open it with Inkscape and save it as Inkscape SVG. The resulting SVG will import flawlessly into Scribus.
Option 2: OpenOffice.org/StarOffice
Some WMFs cannot be imported correctly by Inkscape, so in these cases you can use OpenOffice.org or StarOffice. As “Office” applications they offer perfect support for WMF files.
Begin by creating a new OpenOffice.org/StarOffice Draw file. Then use Insert > Picture > From File to import your WMF file. The next step is crucial: Use the context menu and apply “Break”. This is the equivalent of Ungroup in Scribus or a vector drawing program. If you forget this step, OpenOffice.org/StarOffice will embed the WMF as an image, and Scribus will not be able to import it.
Once the drawing is ungrouped or “broken up”, export the selection as EPS or SVG, after which Scribus will import the result without issues in most cases.


