Graphics programmers aren't the only ones who need to be proficient with graphics. Web and applications programmers know that a dull web page can be quickly transformed into one that's interesting and lively with the use of well-planned graphics. And fortunately, you don't need the skills of a fulltime graphics programmer to use graphics effectively. From access counters and log report graphs to scientific plots and on-the-fly animated GIFs, graphics scripting is within the grasp of most web programmers. Using open source software, like Perl, you have the power to dynamically generate graphics based on user input and activity, easily manipulate graphics content, and optimize graphics for compression and quality.

Geared toward Perl users and webmasters, Perl Graphics Programming focuses on open-source scripting programs that manipulate graphics files for use on the Web. The book demystifies the manipulation of graphics formats for newcomers to the Web with a practical, resource-like approach. With this book you'll learn to:

• Generate dynamic web graphics with charts, tables, and buttons
  
• Automate graphics tasks (thumbnails and borders)
  
• Create dynamics web documents (PDF, Postscript)
  
• Produce rich Internet experiences with Flash and SVG

You'll begin with a tour of the most common web graphic file formats--PNG, JPEG, GIF, SWF, SVG, Postscript and PDF--then you'll explore the most powerful tools and Perl modules available for manipulating these graphics, such as GD, PerlMagick, and GIMP. Included in this part of the book is a thorough description of the Ming module for creating on-the-fly Flash files. Next, a "cookbook" section includes practical, all purpose recipes: GIF animation, generating images within a dynamic application, communicating between SWF front-end and Perl back-end, XSLT transformations, compression, and much more.

Perl programmers naturally turn to Perl to tackle whatever challenge they have at hand, and graphics programming is no exception. Perl Graphics Programming provides all the tools you need to begin programming and designing graphics for the Web immediately. This book will change how you think about generating and manipulating graphics for the Web.

Table of Contents

Preface 

Part I. Raster Images and Web Graphics

1. Creating Graphics with Perl
2. On-the-Fly Graphics with GD
3. Graphics Scripting with Image::Magick
4. Charts and Graphs with GD::Graph
5. Scripting the Gimp with Perl

Part II. Vector Images and Animations

6. SVG: The Scalable Vector Graphics Format
7. Creating SVG with Perl
8. SWF: The Flash File Format
9. Using Ming

 
 
Part III. Documents and Printing

10. Printing with Postscript and PDF
11. Using the PostScript Modules
12. Creating PDF Documents with Perl

Part IV. Appendixes

A. Serving Graphics on the Web
B. Gimp Reference
C. Image::Magick File Formats
D. ActionScript Reference
Index