Jasc has posted a free prototype of Trajectory Pro, an object-oriented illustration package for producing images in the open SVG format. SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics and is a non-proprietary format for rich, infinitely scalable drawings. Similiar to other vector formats like Flash animations or PostScript, SVG drawings are compact enough to download quickly to a web page but can be scaled to billboard size output without degradation.

While still pretty rough around the edges, Trajectory Pro offers a glimpse of the power of this standards-based format that has been endorsed by major graphics vendors including Microsoft, Adobe, and Corel.

The package's drawing tools include the usual lines, polygons, ellipses, and text with selectable line thickness and line styles along with bezier curves and (interestingly) spirals. Each figure can be translucent or opaque and optionally filled with a solid color or gradient.

Of course, one of the main benefits of vector graphics is that objects and their attributes remain editable and can be resized, regrouped, and reordered endlessly.

It's a fun demonstration of the technology and nice to see Jasc take a lead on building SVG tools. While Adobe has a browser plug-in for viewing SVG files and Corel offers a Corel Draw export plug-in, Jasc is first with drawing tool that makes SVG files its native format.

Copyright © 2006 Stephen Jones All rights reserved.