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.
