What is a .SVG file?
An SVG file is an XML-based vector graphics format that allows images to be resized or scaled without losing quality. It stores images as mathematical formulas defining curves, shapes, lines, and points.
SVG format means Scalable Vector Graphics and uses the '.svg' file extension. SVG files are often styled with CSS, and SVG2 adopts modular specifications similar to those used in CSS. SVG files are ideal for designing 2D graphics when scalability is required.
SVG files offer limitless scalability, making them perfect for designs displayed in various sizes across different platforms or mediums. They can be animated and are typically smaller than raster formats like PNG and JPG. Unlike these pixel-based formats, SVGs maintain image quality without compression, preserving clarity after resizing.
Because SVG files retain solid colors and clean lines, they don't become blurry or pixelated like pixel-based formats such as ICO, JPEG, WEBP, or PNG. This makes SVG ideal for vector graphics and illustrations, though raster formats are generally better suited for high-quality photographs.
SVG is unique from other formats, such as raster formats, because of the following:
- Scalability: SVG graphics allow for upward and downward scaling without losing image quality since they are resolution-independent.
- Editing: SVG files are easily editable as XML text (XML) without editing tools like in raster files.
- Interactivity: SVG files support CSS, JavaScript, and animation, while PNG or JPEG files are static.
- File Structure: SVG files are based on XML (Extensible Markup Language), meaning they are human-readable and can be edited with a text editor while raster formats are binary, making them difficult to edit without specialized software.
- Scripting and Animations: SVG supports interactivity and animations via CSS or JavaScript, making it very flexible compared to static raster images, including PNG or JPEG.
History of SVG image files
The first version of an SVG file was created and released in 1999 by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which comprised developers and designers from dominant firms such as Xerox, Boeing, Microsoft, IBM, and Adobe.
W3C saw the need for an open and universal standard to aid in creating and displaying vector graphics on websites. The organization called for proposals to develop a new Vector Graphics file format. Information from six competing proposals led to the creation of the first version of the SVG file format.
There are two types of SVG file formats: SVG 1.1 and SVG2. The SVG 1.1 file format comprises metadata, animation, filter effects, masking, patterns, gradients, color, markers, basic shapes, and paths. The SVG2 format improved the SVG image format to make it more compatible with modern browsers and standards.
The SVG file format was created to bridge the unwanted gap between the raster image capabilities standard to PNG and JPEG and Webmasters' desire for scalable graphics. The file format allows for smooth scaling, making it ideal for high-resolution displays and mobile devices.
The SVG file format is an open standard for creating and displaying website vector graphics, including illustrations, charts, logos, and icons. Almost 50.3% of all global websites currently support or are compatible with the SVG file format.
The SVG file is flexible, scalable, and editable, attributes that make it very popular and widely adopted by designers and developers alike. The file format can be adopted and used in output devices, web browsers, and graphic design programs.
What are SVG files used for?
SVG files enjoy universal adoption and usage because they are scalable, flexible, and highly-compatible. Below are areas where SVG files are primarily used:
1. Web Graphics
Responsive Design: SVG files are scalable without losing resolution or quality, making them suitable for websites that acclimate to different screen sizes.
Logos and Icons: SVG files create various graphical elements, including web icons and logos, since they preserve their clarity and crispiness at varying resolutions or any screen size.
2. Animated and Interactive Graphics
Data Visualization: SVG files are used for actual, interactive data displays or to create visual representations, including graphs and charts since their XML structures enable web designers to program and modify graphics.
Web Animations: SVG files used to create dynamic web elements, 2D games, animated icons, and interactive user interfaces.
3. Scalable Print Graphics: SVG files are vector-based, allowing them to be scaled infinitely without losing quality, making them ideal for producing printouts such as banners and business cards.
4. Infographics and Illustrations: SVG files can be used to create detailed infographics and illustrations, which must preserve precision and clarity when printed in different sizes.
5. Map Visualizations: SVG files create mapping apps or scalable geographic maps that can be panned or zoomed in so users can click on the required regions while maintaining resolution or quality.
6. Schematics and Technical Diagrams: Given the precision of their vector graphics, SVG files can be used to create schematic illustrations, architectural plans, and technical drawings.
Pros and cons of SVG files?
SVG files are exceptional for interactive, lightweight, and scalable graphics, particularly on websites. Nevertheless, the file format is unsuitable for some print applications or complex graphics such as textures and photographs. Here are the benefits and demerits of SVG files:
Advantages of SVG Files
ALT: Advantages of SVG files
Support for Interactivity: The SVG image format uses CSS and JavaScript to create and support interactive elements, including animations and hyperlinks.
Editable: SVG files comprise a sequence of lines, curves, and shapes defined using equations. They can be easily formatted or edited while preserving quality.
Resolution Independence: SVG image files can be displayed at different resolutions without losing quality.
Small File Size: SVG image files are smaller than raster graphics like PNG or JPG, reducing web loading time and efficient transmission.
Scalability: SVG files are not composed of a fixed number of pixels, which makes them scalable to different sizes while preserving image quality.
Disadvantages of SVG Files
ALT: Disadvantages of SVG files
Learning Curve: SVG file formats can compel users to learn how to use the image format, particularly those accustomed to PNG and JPEG.
Browser Support: SVG file formats are only supported by current browsers, not legacy or older browsers like Internet Explorer 8.
Complexity: Detailed and complex SVG file formats are larger than raster graphics such as PNG and JPG, requiring more storage space and increasing web loading time.
How to open a .SVG file
To open an SVG file on iPhone, Mac, Word, Android, and Windows, use built-in OS tools (File Previewers), online SVG editors or viewers, text editors (TextEdit (Mac), Notepad (Windows), Graphic design or conversion software (Affinity Designer, GIMP, CorelDraw, Illustrator) and Web Browsers.
How to open SVG files in Windows
To open SVG files in Windows, use a Text Editor such as Visual Studio Code, Notepad ++, or Notepad. Follow the steps below to realize your goal:
Right-click the SVG file
Choose Open With > Select the text editor (Visual Studio, Notepad or Notepad++)
Left-click on the preferred Text Editor
How to open SVG file on Mac
To open an SVG file on Mac, use the Preview App and follow the following steps:
Navigate and Locate your SVG files
Right-click the SVG file.
Select Open With > Choose Preview (the built-in image viewer for macOS).
Note: The Preview Application can only open and display an SVG file but cannot allow users to edit it.
How to open SVG file on iPhone
To open SVG files on iPhone, use third-party apps such as Vectornator, Illustrator, Amadine, Procreate, or online SVG viewers like Vectr or SVG-Edit. Using Vectornator, do the following to open your file on your iPhone:
Download and install Vectornator on your iPhone.
Open or launch the application
Go to Import > Choose the SVG file from Cloud Storage or Files app.
Tap it to Open for viewing and editing as required.
How to open SVG file on Android
To open an SVG file on Android, use Vector Ink, SVG Viewer, Inkscape, or Illustrator. To open an SVG file using Vector Ink, do the following:
Download and Install Vector Ink (from the Google Play Store)
Launch the Vector Ink application from Android’s app drawer.
Go to the app's Toolbar or Menu > Open or Import.
Tap on it > Navigate to locate the SVG file
Choose the SVG file to be opened > Tap it
How to open SVG file in Word
To open an SVG file in Word, follow the below steps:
Open Microsoft Word on your PC.
Place the cursor in the Word document where you want the SVG file inserted.
From the toolbar, Click the Insert tab.
Go to the Illustrations group and choose Pictures.
Select This Device (for SVG file stored locally on the PC)
In the file explorer window that is opened, locate the folder with your SVG file.
Choose the SVG file and click Insert.
How to open SVG file in Photoshop
To open an SVG file in Photoshop, follow these steps:
Download and install on your computer.
Launch the Photoshop Program.
Drag and drop the SVG file directly into the Photoshop workspace.
Alternatively,
Launch Photoshop > Go to the Menu tab and click File.
Choose Open.
Navigate and locate the folder with the SVG file.
Choose the SVG file > Click Open.
Online SVG file viewers
Yes. Users can view SVG files online by using different tools and websites. Most web-based applications and browsers easily display SVG files without supporting plugins or software. Below is a list of online SVG file viewing options:
Vectr
SVGOMG
TapidTables SVG Viewer
SVG Viewer
The following modern web browsers also support SVG files natively:
Safari
Chrome
Firefox
Edge
To view SVG files online, follow the below steps:
Open any of the above-listed Tools
Drag and drop the SVG file into the browser window
or
Upload the SVG file.
How to make SVG files online
To make an SVG file online from scratch, use online vector graphic editors such as Canva, Figma, Vectr, or SVG-Edit. Here is how to create an SVG file online using Figma.
Go to Figma.com.
Sign up for a free account > Choose Create a New Project.
Go to Tools and draw lines, text, and shapes.
Under Tools > Boolean, combine shapes and Adjust layers.
When the SVG file design is complete, choose the elements to be exported.
Use the Export button (the panel on the right) or Right-click and choose Export as SVG.
Download and Save the created SVG file.
Alternatively, you can create an SVG file by converting AI, DWG, PDF, JPEG, or PNG into SVG format using software or online tools like Convertjack, PDF2SVG, CloudConvert, Adobe Illustrator, or Convertio.
Follow the steps below to convert any of the above file types (e.g., DWG) into SVG using Convertjack. Visit our DWG to SVG converter and follow the steps below:
Upload your DWG file.
Choose SVG as the preferred or output file format
Click Convert to start the conversion process.
Download and Save the converted SVG file.
How to edit SVG files
To edit SVG files, you can use different tools, from advanced desktop programs to simple online editors. Examples of online tools for quick SVG file editing include Figma, Method Draw, Vectr, and SVG-Edit.
Conversely, for advanced editing, use desktop programs such as Affinity Designer, Adobe Illustrator, or Inkscape. For code editing, use Sublime Text, Notepad++, or Visual Studio Code. Mobile Apps used to edit SVG files are Adobe Illustrator Draw or Vectornator.
For example, use Inkscape to SVG files by following these steps:
Download and install Inkscape.
Launch the Program and Go to Open > Choose SVG File > Open
Go to the Tools tab and edit layers, text, colors, shapes, and paths.
Click Save your changes when done.
How to edit SVG files on Windows
To edit SVG files on Windows, use various options, including Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, Figma, CorelDraw, SVG-Edit, Visual Studio, Code, or Notepad. Illustrator is the industry standard for most vector designs, allowing complete-featured SVG editing capabilities. Below are the steps to edit your SVG file:
Download and Install Adobe Illustrator.
Launch it, go to File > Open, and select the SVG file.
Got to the Tools bar and edit features like text, shapes, colors, and paths
Under Tools, adjust SVBG file layers and Apply effects.
Go to File > Save As, choose SVG, and adjust export settings if necessary.
How to edit SVG files on Mac
To edit SVG files on Mac, use Inkscape, Illustrator, Affinity Designer, SVG-Edit, or Preview (the built-in macOS application) to open, view, and edit some basic SVG features. The following steps show how to edit an SVG file using Preview:
Double-click on the SVG file or Right-click it > Open > Open With > Preview
Go to Tools > Adjust Color menu (make the required edits or adjustments)
Go to File > Export and select SVG (to save the changes made).
How to edit SVG files online
To edit SVG files online, several online SVG editors are available to allow you to create, modify, and export SVG files directly in your chosen web browser. The SVG editing tools are appropriate since no installation is required, and most of them are free. The following are online SVG file editors:
SVG-Edit
Canva
Figma
Vectr
For example, here is how to edit your SVG file online using SVG-Edit:
Visit SVG-Edit.
Click on the Open icon (folder symbol) on the editing interface.
Choose the SVG file to be edited from the PC and click Open.
Navigate the SVG-Edit Interface to see the various editing tools, such as drawing tools, file operations, and display properties.
Click the Text tool (T icon) > click on the canvas to adjust color, size, and font (the right panel.
Go to the Layer menu on the top toolbar and edit layers.
Click the Save icon > Save as SVG (default) or export the file to another.
How to resize SVG file
To resize an SVG file, several options exist depending on the user's needs, including whether the user wants to rasterize the file or maintain the vector quality. Here is a list of the online SVG resizers:
Vectr
Boxy SVG
SVG-Edit
ResizeImage.net
SVGOMG
Vecta.io
ResizePixel
RedKetchup.io
To resize an SVG image using Vecta.io, do the following:
Open a web browser > Go to Vecta.io Nano.
Drag and drop the SVG file into the editor or click the "Upload" button on the top left.
Once it appears on the Canvas, click on it to select the whole image.
Resize it manually by:
Click and drag the edges or corners of the SVG while holding the "Shift" key to maintain the aspect ratio.
Or
Enter or input the specific dimensions (width and height) on the right panel.
Once done, click on the "Export" button at the top right of the screen.
Choose SVG as the file format, and click Download.
How to repair SVG files
To repair a corrupted SVG file, open it manually in a Text Editor, use a Debugger or SVG Validators like SVGOMG or W3C SVG Validator, rebuild critical parts, or use an SVG Repair Tool such as SVGMinify.
To repair an SVG file using SVGMinify, follow the steps below:
Using SVGMinify for SVG Repair
Open SVGMinify in the browser.
Click Upload SVG to select the file or Drag and drop the corrupted SVG file into the interface.
Allow the repair tool to process the file and fix the errors.
Click Download and Save the repaired SVG file.
How to recover SVG files
To recover a corrupted SVG file, use Text Editor, SVGOMG, and use backup or recovery software like Recuva, Disk Drill, and PhotoRec. Below are steps to recover a corrupted SVG file using Disk Drill:
Download and Install Disk Drill
Launch Disk Drill
Select the Location to Scan from the main interface (USB, external or internal drive).
Choose Recovery Method: Deep scan or quick scan
Run the Scan
Click the "Search for lost data” button.
Once completed, a list of recoverable files will be displayed.
Search or filter to find your corrupted SVG file
Select the SVG file to be recovered by checking the box next to it.
Click the Recover button and choose the preferred folder to save the file.
How to create SVG animations
To create SVG animations, use tools like JavaScript, SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language), or CSS. To create the SMIL-Based SVG Animation, do the following:
Define your SVG element in an HTML file.
Add elements or shapes to animate like a circle.
Use the <animate> element to animate the SVG shapes attributes.
Use the <set> element to alter an attribute immediately at a particular time during the animation.
Use the <begin> attribute to control when animation starts. Refer to the end of another animation or specify values in seconds.
How to compress SVG files
To compress SVG files, you choose between the paid and unpaid options. The paid options usually offer better user interfaces and additional features, while the unpaid options cater to basic needs. Below is a list of the free and paid SVG compression tools:
Paid Options
Adobe Illustrator
TinyPNG
ImageOptim
SVG Converter Pro
Unpaid or Free Options
SVGO
SVGOMG
Inkscape
Online SVG Optimizer
How to convert SVG files
You can convert SVG files to BASE64, CSS, HTML, WMF, PNG, PDF, JPG/JPEG, DXF, AI, BMP, EPS, WEBP, and GIF using Convertjack. Visit our SVG file converter and follow the three steps below:
Upload the SVG file
Select your preferred format
Click Convert, then download and save the converted file
Note: The tool allows you to do batch conversion if you have multiple SVG files to convert