Hello,
my understanding is that svg is a vector based graphic file format.
I am having a strange issue.
I created a graphic slice from within Engrave Mode and chose SVG mono as export format.
This is the .pdf export of the first page: 01_TRAVERSFLÖTENSPIEL HEUTE - TEIL 2_Full score_2025-06-13.pdf
and this is the .svg export of the graphic slice (I had to zip it up to be able to upload it here): Slice 1.svg.zip
Everything looks fine on my computer.
After I have sent the .svg file via email, the initial time signature and the tuplet numbers seem to be lost (a square is being displayed). How can this happen with a vector based graphic file?
It happens in the preview of my mail application and this is how it looks there:
I don’t believe SVG embeds fonts as PDFs do. So whomever you send it to would need Bravura installed to see those markings. If you have a vector graphics program, open the SVG there and perform a Convert to Curves operation.
Craig is correct, but IMO to more briefly answer the question of the post title: …not SVG. PDF all day long.
You can use the online tool Cloud Convert to convert to curves. I did this a few years back for a client that needed hundreds of SVGs for a project. That’s the only safe way to work with them.
If the issue were just font embedding, wouldn’t all the rest of the notation fail to display as well? It seems curious that only the time sig and tuplet numbers aren’t displaying.
I’ve done extensive work with SVG rom Dorico in helping to create 4 music education method books pertaining to percussion, from beginner level through super advanced. I have never seen this issue come up before.
A LONG time ago (Dorico 1.2) I had an issue with the SVG export where the lines didn’t line up perfectly. But have had no issues since v2.
I would recommend downloading Affinity Studio (completely free, but you do need a Canva account) export the SVGs and open them in Affinity and see if the issue still persists. It could be an issue with the email application struggling with SVG (I know I ran into some issues with Outlook and SVGs last year, but don’t remember the exact issue at the moment).
But as everyone else has recommended, if you can, use PDF and save yourself this headache.
Curious about this. Have you sent SVGs from Dorico to others, via email or whatever, and were they able to view them successfully even if they didn’t have Dorico’s fonts?
And what about embedding SVGs on websites?
I have not used SVGs for at least two years now. Perhaps something has changed.
I did email some SVGs a couple of years ago, they opened for the other individual (don’t remember if they did or did not have Dorico installed at the time). And they were able to “view” the SVG without issue. However, it was just a test and nothing serious. The SVG was never used for anything other than a quick peek on the other person’s computer.
So based on thinking through what you have asked, perhaps my situation was set up for success without me recognizing it? Now you got me thinking, and I am going to run some tests to see if I encounter any issues.
I guess, take my advice with a grain of salt, or the common phrase “Your mileage may vary”.
OK! I just did a test between my computer and my iPad. I used a file that I have setup to use the LS Iris font (which is NOT on my iPad). Exported as SVG.
Odd behavior. EVERYTHING shows up correctly, except the quarter note used for the tempo and the time signature. The flat symbol on the instrument names shows up, the quarter notes and quarter rests show up. The handwritten style font that LS Iris uses looks perfect with no issues. ONLY the time signature and the tempo quarter note are missing.
The tempo shows the square box from the OPs post, and the time signature shows up as a series of equal signs, great than, and less than symbols.
So perhaps when I did what I did years ago, the person had Dorico. Or I sent an example that did not include a time signature or tempo.
I stand corrected. I will now say to use PDF and that SVG does NOT work as you would think.
But this does raise a deeper question for me… SVG is supposed to simply be a series of lines and arcs. A math formula if you will. Which begs the question, why does Dorico overlook some of these items when creating the formula?
SVG is basically XML. It may be that something is poorly described, or poorly parsed.
Dorico uses a third-party SVG library, so is not really responsible for its internal workings.
SVG was created as an inline vector format for webpages. As said, it’s pretty basic, and only embeds fonts through a “workaround”. PDFs are largely to be preferred wherever possible. It’s a shame that Dorico still doesn’t import graphics as PDF.
