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Introduction to Vector Graphics

This specification defines the features and syntax for Magick Vector Graphics (MVG), a modularized language for describing two-dimensional vector and mixed vector/raster graphics in ImageMagick. You can use the language to draw from the command line, from an MVG file, from an SVG -- Scalable Vector Graphics file or from one of the ImageMagick program interfaces. Use this command, for example, to render an arc:

 convert -size 100x60 xc:skyblue -fill white -stroke black \
    -draw "path 'M 30,40  A 30,20  20  0,0 70,20 A 30,20  20  1,0 30,40 Z '" \
    arc.png

and here is the results:

arc

When the drawing gets sufficiently complex, we recommend you assemble the graphic primitives into a MVG file. For our example, we use piechart.mvg to render a pie chart with this command:

   convert piechart.mvg piechart.png

which produces this rendering:

piechart

However, in general, MVG is sufficiently difficult to work with that you probably want to use a program to generate your graphics in the SVG format. ImageMagick automatically converts SVG to MVG and renders your image, for example, we render piechart.svg with this command:

   convert piechart.svg piechart.jpg

to produce the same pie chart we created with the the MVG language.

Drawing is available from many of the ImageMagick program interfaces as well. ImageMagick converts the drawing API calls to MVG and renders it. Here is example code written in the MagickWand language:

   (void) PushDrawingWand(draw_wand);
   {
     const PointInfo points[6] =
     {
       { 180,504 },
       { 282.7,578.6 },
       { 243.5,699.4 },
       { 116.5,699.4 },
       { 77.26,578.6 },
       { 180,504 }
     };

     DrawSetStrokeAntialias(draw_wand,True);
     DrawSetStrokeWidth(draw_wand,9);
     DrawSetStrokeLineCap(draw_wand,RoundCap);
     DrawSetStrokeLineJoin(draw_wand,RoundJoin);
     (void) DrawSetStrokeDashArray(draw_wand,0,(const double *)NULL);
     (void) PixelSetColor(color,"#4000c2");
     DrawSetStrokeColor(draw_wand,color);
     DrawSetFillRule(draw_wand,EvenOddRule);
     (void) PixelSetColor(color,"#800000");
     DrawSetFillColor(draw_wand,color);
     DrawPolygon(draw_wand,6,points);
   }
   (void) PopDrawingWand(draw_wand);

MVG Overview

MVG ignores all white-space between commands. This allows multiple MVG commands per line. It is common convention to terminate each MVG command with a new line to make MVG easier to edit and read. This syntax description uses indentation in MVG sequences to aid with understanding. Indentation is supported but is not required.

Metafile wrapper syntax (to support stand-alone MVG files):

  push graphic-context
    viewbox 0 0 width height
    [ any other MVG commands ]
  pop graphic-context

Pattern syntax (saving and restoring context):

  push pattern id x,y width,height
   push graphic-context
    [ drawing commands ]
   pop graphic-context
  pop pattern

an example is (%s is a identifier string):

  push defs
   push pattern %s 10,10 20,20
    push graphic-context
     fill red
     rectangle 5,5 15,15
    pop graphic-context
    push graphic-context
     fill green
     rectangle 10,10 20,20
    pop graphic-context
   pop pattern
  pop defs

For image tiling use:

  push pattern id x,y width,height
   image Copy ...
  pop pattern

Note you can use the pattern for either the fill or stroke like:

  stroke url(#%s)

or

  fill url(#%s)

The clip path defines a clipping area, where only the contained area to be drawn upon. Areas outside of the clipping area are masked.

  push defs
   push clip-path %s
    push graphic-context
     rectangle 10,10 20,20
    pop graphic-context
   pop clip-path
  pop defs
  clip-path url(#%s)

Drawing Primitives

Here is a complete description of the MVG drawing primitives:

    affine sx,rx,ry,sy,tx,ty

    arc x0,y0   x1,y1   a0,a1

    bezier x0,y0 ... xn,yn

    circle originx,originy   perimeterx,perimetery

    clip-path url(name)

    clip-rule rule

    Choose from these rule types:

      evenodd
      nonzero
    

    clip-units units

    Choose from these unit types:

      userSpace
      userSpaceOnUse
      objectBoundingBox
    

    color x,y method

    Choose from these method types:

      point
      replace
      floodfill
      filltoborder
      reset
    

    decorate type

    Choose from these types of decorations:

      none
      line-through
      overline
      underline
    

    ellipse centerx,centery   radiusx,radiusy   arcstart,arcstop

    fill color

    Choose from any of these colors.

    fill-opacity opacity

    The opacity ranges from 0.0 (fully transparent) to 1.0 (fully opaque) or as a percentage (e.g. 50%).

    fill-rule rule

    Choose from these rule types:

      evenodd
      nonzero
    

    font name

    font-family family

    font-size point-size

    font-stretch type

    Choose from these stretch types:

      all
      normal
      ultra-condensed
      extra-condensed
      condensed
      semi-condensed
      semi-expanded
      expanded
      extra-expanded
      ultra-expanded
    

    font-style style

    Choose from these styles:

      all
      normal
      italic
      oblique
    

    font-weight weight

    Choose from these weights:

      all
      normal
      bold
      100
      200
      300
      400
      500
      600
      700
      800
      900
    

    gradient-units units

    Choose from these units:

      userSpace
      userSpaceOnUse
      objectBoundingBox
    

    gravity type

    Choose from these gravity types:

      NorthWest
      North
      NorthEast
      West
      Center
      East
      SouthWest
      South
      SouthEast
    

    image compose x,y width,height 'filename'

    Choose from these compose operations:

      Add
      Atop
      Bumpmap
      Clear
      CopyBlue
      CopyGreen
      CopyOpacity
      CopyRed
      Copy
      Difference
      In
      Minus
      Multiply
      Out
      Over
      Plus
      Subtract
      Xor
    

    line x,y x1,y1

    font-style x,y method

    Choose from these methods:

      point
      replace
      floodfill
      filltoborder
      reset
    

    offset offset

    opacity opacity

    Use percent (e.g. 50%).

    path path

    point x,y

    polygon x,y x1,y1, ..., xn,yn

    polyline x,y x1,y1, ..., xn,yn

    pop clip-path

    pop defs

    pop gradient

    pop graphic-context

    pop pattern

    push clip-path name

    push defs

    push gradient id linear x,y x1,y1

    push gradient id radial xc,cy xf,yf radius

    push graphic-context

    push pattern id radial x,y width,height

    rectangle x,y x1,y1

    rotate angle

    roundrectangle x,y x1,y1 width,height

    scale x,y

    skewX angle

    skewX angle

    stop-color color offset

    stroke color

    stroke-antialias 0 | 1

    stroke-dasharray none | numeric-list

    stroke-dashoffset offset

    stroke-linecap type

    Choose from these cap types:

      butt
      round
      square
    

    stroke-linejoin type

    Choose from these join types:

      bevel
      miter
      round
    

    stroke-miterlimit limit

    stroke-opacity opacity

    The opacity ranges from 0.0 (fully transparent) to 1.0 (fully opaque) or as a percentage (e.g. 50%).

    stroke-width width

    text "text"

    text-antialias 0 | 1

    text-undercolor color

    translate x,y

    viewbox x,y x1,y1

 
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