Best file format for diagrams

Chit-Chat / Rumor Mill
1

I’ve posted a few diagrams to the VexForums recently, and I’ve always used a picture format (png, tiff, etc) but I’d rather post them as pdf’s, since pdf is resolution independent and will look great if enlarged or printed.

I know Safari (default Mac browser) deals well with in-line pdf images, but I don’t know how well other browsers do.

Here is a sample diagram posted in four common formats. Have a look and vote for all the ones that look good in your browser of choice. Note, I’m only asking about your preferred format for diagrams like this - photos I post will nearly always be jpg.

PDF, 84K:
http://homepage.mac.com/dean.reece/Vex/FormatPoll/TIP110.pdf

PNG, 149K:
http://homepage.mac.com/dean.reece/Vex/FormatPoll/TIP110.png

JPG, 164K:
http://homepage.mac.com/dean.reece/Vex/FormatPoll/TIP110.jpg

TIFF, 239K:
http://homepage.mac.com/dean.reece/Vex/FormatPoll/TIP110.tif

Thanks,

  • Dean
2

I would just post it as an SVG, since it too is resolution independent, and most browsers can render it without any add-ons.

3

I don’t know if it is an issue with my tools/browser, or the SVG format itself, but it doesn’t seem to render shadows and the font spacing is off. Here is what I came up with:

SVG, 30K:
http://homepage.mac.com/dean.reece/Vex/FormatPoll/TIP110.svg

Definitely no good in Safari.

Cheers,

  • Dean