[IPOL discuss] Vector graphics on IPOL: which format to use?

[Pascal Getreuer]

Hi Miguel,

> To test it, I created an example web at:
> http://dev.ipol.im/~colom/images/images.html

Thanks for making this embedding demonstration page.  Indeed, PDF
files do not embed while SVG files can embed like PNG images can.
This is a huge benefit of SVG.

However, I alarmed to find that this SVG embedding does not work with
either of the browsers I have installed.  On my Fedora 13 system, I
have Firefox 3.6.17 (latest version on the 3.x branch) and Konqueror
4.5.5.  With both browsers, a small broken image icon is shown for the
SVG and the PDF images.  I posted screenshots of the webpage with
these browsers at
   http://dev.ipol.im/~getreuer/images-firefox-3-6-17.png
   http://dev.ipol.im/~getreuer/images-konqueror-4-5-5.png

If I navigate directly to the location of the SVG
(http://dev.ipol.im/~colom/images/image.svg), then Firefox renders the
SVG image without any problems.  Doing the same with Konqueror, the
SVG image is rendered, but incorrectly.
   http://dev.ipol.im/~getreuer/svg-konqueror-4-5-5.png

The browsers in my test are admittedly a little out of date---Firefox
5.0 and Konqueror 4.6.4 are now available---but quite possibly such
are the circumstances of the typical, non-web-enthusiast IPOL visitor.
 This experience reveals that SVG support among browsers is pretty
inconsistent.

I am interested to know the outcome if anyone has tried Miguel's image
demo with other browsers.  Text-only description is sufficient for me,
though screenshots are nice of course.

Like I said previously, it would be possible to detect older browsers
and then advise those visitors to update (e.g., Firefox 3.x users like
me should be encouraged to update).  Should we consider this?

Best,
Pascal