Creating SVG for use as mx annotation overlays

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Before you can annotate images in mx, you need to draw the annotation in image illustration software. For our purposes we are using Inkscape (freeware available here: http://www.inkscape.org/) or Adobe Illustrator, but any such vector-based program with capabilities to save as an SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) file should work.

  • for either application, the original image must be saved on the user's hard drive (e.g. from a microscope-captured image or off of an image database such as MorphBank: http://www.morphbank.net/)
  • it is a good idea to record the actual dimensions of the image (which can be found by right-clicking the file and viewing the 'Properties > Details') especially when using Illustrator (as Illustrator tends to re-size the image when imported)
  • the basic idea will be that if you zero the image as a base layer in illustration software and draw an overlay highlighting the structure, the SVG code will be translated as that exact overlay in mx

Instructions for Inkscape:

  • Open inkscape and go to 'File > Import' (or Ctrl+I); select the image that you want to annotate
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