Java Drawing with Apache Batik: A Tutorial

Description

This guide to Apache Batik, the Java library that can be used to read SVG files and translate the instructions in the files into graphics, shows how Batik can also be used to save the graphics as JPEG, TIFF, PNG, GIF, and other formats, so that the graphics can be transferred. Using Batik to create animation similar to Flash movies and its use for creating a drawing program such as Corel DRAW are also covered.

Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is an XML-based language for describing two-dimensional vector graphics and vector/raster graphics. The SVG specification describes in great detail how different shapes can be created, manipulated, transformed, and animated. In particular, SVG 1.1 defines:

Basic shape elements such as rectangle, circle, ellipse, line, polyline, and polygon.

Basic data types, such as integer, number, length, and angle.

The structure of an SVG document.

How to apply styles in an SVG document.

How to deal with text and how to use fonts.

How to work with colors, gradients, and patterns.

How and in which order elements should be rendered.

Which filter effects should be available and how to apply them.

How to animate images.