Converting images from TikZ to SVG

The route from TikZ to SVG helps to programmatically draw images which can then be given to the boss for further perusal.

• generate an image, an small example (balls.tex) is shown below

\documentclass{minimal}

\usepackage{tikz}
\begin{document}
\centering
\begin{tikzpicture}
  \foreach \x/\y/\color in {1/2/red,3/4/green,5/6/blue}
    \shade [ball color=\color] (\x,\y) circle (\x/\y);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

• compile this document to balls.pdf
• import said pdf into inkscape
• save as
• import document.svg into CorelDraw
• save as balls.cdr, send to boss

The hard way actually looks much easier, but in my experience doesn't always work, expecially for complicated figures. One advantage is that the resulting .svg-files are much nicer (e.g. shading fully works…)

• use a special pgfsysdriver in the preamble of the document¹⁾ (balls-htlatex.tex)

\documentclass{minimal}
\def\pgfsysdriver{pgfsys-tex4ht.def}
\usepackage{tikz}
\begin{document}
\centering
\begin{tikzpicture}
  \foreach \x/\y/\color in {1/2/red,3/4/green,5/6/blue}
  \shade [ball color=\color] (\x,\y) circle (\x/\y);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

• if you're using graphics with TikZ (for example for scale bars, then also declare the graphics-extension.

\usepackage{graphicx}
\DeclareGraphicsExtensions{.png} % I prefer .png to .eps...

• use htlatex to compile this document to html. this generates .svg-files from all included tikz-pictures.
• open resulting with coreldraw (which sadly does not always work…)