SK1 (program)

infobox software
name = sK1


caption = sK1 in Mandriva Linux with Ubuntulooks theme
developer = sK1 Team
latest_release_version = 0.9.0
latest_release_date = release date|2008|2|4
programming language = Python C Tcl/Tk
operating_system = Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X
genre = Vector graphics editor
license = GNU Lesser General Public License
website = [http://sk1project.org/ sk1project.org]

sK1 is an open-source illustration program for the Linux platform that can substitute professional proprietary software like CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator. Unique project features are CorelDRAW formats importers, tabbed multidocument interface, Cairo-based engine, color management etc.

History

The project was started by a small team (Igor Novikov was the project leader) in 2003 by modification of source code of existing open source vector graphics editor Skencil. Since Skencil developers stopped development of 0.6.x versions on the base of Tk widgets and started developing a new branch of the program using GTK+ (which does not appear to achieve the level of the legacy version), the sK1 automatically turned into a Skencil fork. An attempt was made to join the efforts with Skencil developers, but it failed. At present Skencil development has been stopped.

Target audience

The project was started by a small team of Ukranian professionals in preprint. That unambiguously focused the project on full support of PostScript, PDF, CMYK color model and color management at the expence of developing some advanced functions for illustrators. Informally the project is positioned as a free open source alternative to the commercial CorelDRAW.

Functionality

; Tools:
* Selection
* Node edit
* Magnifier glass
* Drawing of joint lines (polylines)
* Bezier curves drawing
* Ellipse drawing
* Polygon drawing
* Text editing

Supported formats

; Import:
* CorelDRAW v7-X4 (CDR/CDT/CCX/CDRX/CMX)
* Adobe Illustrator up to version 9 (based on PostScript)
* Postscript (PS) and Encapsulated Postscript (EPS)
* Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM)
* Windows Metafile (WMF)
* XFIG
* Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
* Skencil/Sketch/sK1 (SK and SK1)
* Acorn Draw (AFF)

; Export:
* AI - Adobe Illustrator 5.0 (based on PostScript)
* PDF - Portable Document Format
* PS - PostScript
* SVG - Scalable Vector Graphics
* SK/SK1 - Skencil/Sketch/sK1
* CGM - Computer Graphics Metafile
* WMF - Windows Metafile

In 2007 the sK1 team reverse-engineered the CDR format. The results and the first working snapshot of CDR importer were presented at [http://libregraphicsmeeting.org/2007/ Libre Graphics Meeting 2007] conference taking place in May 2007 in Montreal (Canada). Later on the team parsed the structure of other Corel formats with the help of [http://sk1project.org/modules.php?name=Products&product=cdrexplorer CDR Explorer] . Now sK1 has the best importer of CorelDRAW file formats among open source software.

Side (friendly) projects

* UniConvertor. It is an application for conversion of files from one vector format into another one. In fact it is a part of sK1, rewritten as a standalone code and being developed by the same team. UniConvertor is also used by Inkscape for opening CorelDRAW, WMF and Sketch/Skencil files. Within a framework of Google Summer of Code 2008 the support of UniConvertor is being prepared for Scribus.
* CDR Explorer. It is a program that simplifies the reverse-engineering of Corel DRAW formats.
* pymfvu. It is a program for WMF/EMF files preview and export to SVG. At project development a comprehensive report on WMF support by various open source and closed applications was made. It is discontinued now.
* LinCuttor. It is an application for interactive work with cutting plotters (PLT format).

Awards

* In 2007 the project was awarded the second place in the Trophées du Libre open source project contest in the "Multimedia and games" category. [cite web | title =The 2007 edition winners | url = http://www.tropheesdulibre.com/?lang=en | work = Les Trophées du Libre | accessdate = 2008-08-03]

References

External links

* [http://sk1project.org/ Official site of the program]