Many of Studio Artist’s paint and image processing effects are raster effects. What this means is that they are pixel based. Raster paint and raster image processing effects are capable of generating amazing organic paint looks and photo realistic imaging effects. However, because raster image processing is pixel based you can’t arbitrarily scale raster image output to arbitrary print resolutions without interpolating the raster image, which can introduce interpolation artifacts at high interpolation ratios.

Vector graphic effects are inherently resolution independent, which means that vector file output can be printed at arbitrary resolutions with no interpolation artifacts. Studio Artist does have the capability to output vector file formats like EPS or SVG. Studio Artist also includes tools that can convert a raster image into a resolution independent vector representation. So you can take a raster image processing effect and by working in Studio Artist generate a modified version of the effect that outputs vector files, which can then be used for resolution independent printing or vector editing.

Raster to vector conversion does introduce artifacts when a continuous tone raster image is converted into a flat color region vector file. However, there are a large number of raster image processing effects that generate flat color raster output.  These kinds of image processing effects are ideal for conversion to vector output.

The Vectorizer has a special Technique option called Flat Input that is specifically designed to take a flat color raster image and convert it into a vector representation. We will utilize that vectorizer technique in this tutorial tip.

The specific image operation we’ll be working with for this tutorial is the Line Screen Regionize ip op. This image operation effects is raster in nature, but generates flat color effected output. The effect is designed to simulate different black and white or color lithography and screen print styles. It’s an example of a raster processing effect that is ideal for generating vector output.

The screen snap above shows the particular editable parameter settings we used for the Line Screen Regionize ip op. Note that the Ip Source is set to the Source Image and the Composite option is set to Replace, so the effect processes the source image and then places the effected output in the current canvas layer. The effect output is shown below.

Note that the effect is ideal for generating vector output because it is a flat color stylized representation of the source image. To convert the raster frame buffer into a vector representation we can now use the Vectorizer.

The screen shot above shows the vectorizer Generation control panel settings we used to convert out flat color raster image processing effect into vector output. Note that the Main Technique option is set to Flat Input. This particular technique assumes that you already have a flat color raster source image. If you are working with a continuous tone raster source image then you would use a different technique like the Image technique.

Note that all of the Filtering and Cleanup options are turned off. This is because we want to convert the flat color raster image into a vector representation with as little modification as possible.

The screen snap above shows the vectorizer Drawing control panel settings used for this example. These settings basically just pass through the flat color region’s original coloring and shape with no effected variation.

Again, the point of these particular vectorizer parameter options is to modify the original image as little as possible. You do have the option to turn on any of the various stylization or coloring options and add additional modifications to your original effect.

I recorded the 2 processing steps discussed above into a paint action sequence (PASeq) shown above. The first action step runs the raster image processing effect. The second action step converts the raster effect output into a vector representation. This 2 step PASeq can now be saved as a PASeq preset and used in the future to generate our custom vector processing effect.

Note that the particular vectorizer settings we used generate anti-aliased vector drawing, so even if you wanted to output a raster image file, using this 2 step technique is a great way to convert the Line Screen Regionize effect into something that generates anti-aliased output at edges in the effect.

When you are ready to generate vector file output with the PASeq preset, there are a few options available to choose from. You can generate EPS output or SVG output. To do this use the appropriate Action : Generate EPS or Action : Generate SVG menu option. Since we’re working with a complete effect recorded into a PASeq, you would use the ‘with Paint Action Sequence’ menu command option.

The screen snap above shows the resulting vector file output opened into Adobe Illustrator. All of the vector paths are completely editable in Illustrator or any other vector editing program when you output your effect this way.

For this particular example we output an SVG vector file and opened it in Illlustrator. Illustrator will also open an EPS vector file. Photoshop can also open EPS files and rasterize them into very high resolution image layers.

The screen capture above shows a zoomed in view of the EPS vector file in Apple’s Preview application. Note how the vector file output arbitrarily scales to an arbitrary zoom for display or for printing.

For More Information

Here’s a tip on generating EPS vector output.

Here’s a tip on generating SVG vector output.

Here’s a tip that discusses a different approach to generating vector output effects by using the Sketch Ip Op in conjunction with the paint synthesizer vector output capabilities.

The PASeq preset generated in this tutorial is available for download here.

There are a wide variety of different tools available in Studio Artist for converting raster images into bezier path renditions of the image. These include techniques to generate bezier path edge sketches (like above), as well as bezier mass sketches based on cross hatching, and complete cartoon style vector renditions of of color imagery. This tip will provide an overview of different approach to generating bezier renditions of raster images.

The example above is a bezier path edge rendition made from the raster image called ‘model’ in the ‘a few source images’ folder provided with Studio Artist. The bezier paths were generated from the source image by running the Path : Generate Paths : from Source Edges menu command.

The generated paths are stored in the current layer’s bezier path frame after they are generated. The bezier path frame is a hidden buffer associated with each layer that can store and display a set of bezier paths. You can view the current layer’s bezier path frame by switching to bezier operation mode. Once in bezier operation mode you can also manually edit the individual bezier paths or hand draw new ones.

Each layer has it’s own bezier path frame. Any path menu operations that generate or modify bezier paths are doing so to the current layer’s bezier path frame. Keep in mind that if you are generating new bezier paths you probably want to initially erase the existing contents of the current layer’s bezier path frame prior to generating new bezier paths. You can either use the erase path layer command menu to do this, or shift clicking the erase button in the main operation toolbar will also do this when it resets the canvas to a default coloring.

Generate Paths

There are a large number of different Generate Paths menu options in addition to the one used above. Adjacent edges generate a bezier path on each side of an edge. Skeletons are bezier paths generated at the mid points between 2  edges, and are an attempt to represent the center spines of different image regions bounded by edges.

The NonWhite options are useful to convert a raster edge image into a set of associated bezier paths. For example, you might use some image operation or MSG preset to generate a black and white raster image edge rendition where the edges are black an the background is white. The NonWhite generate path options can then be used to convert than raster canvas image (or selection) into a set of associated bezier paths.

The Generate Paths : from Ip Op menu option is a new version 4 feature that can generate bezier paths from associated image operations.  not all image operations can generate bezier paths. If a specific image operation can generate bezier paths then this from Ip Op menu will be active when that image operation is active in the image operation editor. Image operations that support generating bezier paths include the Sketch Edge, Sketch Mass, and Color Edge.

Path Layer Commands

The Path : Path Layer Commands menus shown below provide a number of different tools that can be used to modify or enhance generated bezier edge renditions of sketches.

For example, running Size Prune , Connect if Close, and Simplify Lite menu commands on the initial bezier sketch of the model shown at the top of this tip results in the following set of bezier paths. Note how these modified bezier paths have a more stylized hand drawn appearance than the original set of bezier paths derived from the raster source image edges.

Sketch Image Operations

The Sketch Edge and Sketch Mass image operations are new to version 4 and can provide for a wide range of different sketch effects derived off of raster source images. While the normal operation of the 2 Sketch ip ops generate raster sketch images, as discussed above you can use the Path : Generate Paths : from Ip Op menu to generate a bezier path rendition of the associated Sketch effect.

The image below is a screen shot of a set of bezier paths generated using the Sketch Mass ip op and the Path : Generate Paths : from Ip Op menu command.

Once you have a set of bezier paths generated that represent a raster image, you can then paint in those paths using the paint synthesizer. This additional step allows for an infinite variety of different artistic styles to be created off of a given set of bezier paths. The bezier path images above are actual screen snaps of the canvas taken displaying the bezier paths when in Bezier operation mode. But you could generate identical raster canvas images by using a simple 1 pixel black line paint synthesizer preset.

For example, the image below shows a set of bezier paths generated using the Sketch Edge ip op displayed on top of a watercolor paint synthesizer rendition of those bezier paths.  A watercolor paint preset was initially selected and then used to paint the bezier paths by running the Path : Paint Paths : Full Layer menu command. This is an example of painting in a set of vector bezier paths with a raster paint effect into a raster canvas for raster image output.

Vector Output

The Studio Artist 4 paint synthesizer allows for vector paint effects. So you could take the initial bezier paths defining a sketch and then render them using vector paint strokes in the paint synthesizer. Or you could render them by drawing them in with raster paint effects. Vector paint strokes allows for tight anti-aliased renditions as well as resolution independent output. Raster paint strokes allows for organize paint textures, wet paint effects, smear and smudge effects, etc.

For example, the sketch image above is a vector eps sketch rendition of a raster source image of George Carlin. It was generated by first running the Path : Generate Paths:  from Source Images menu.  This generated a bezier edge sketch from the raster source image. That set of bezier paths was then painted in with the paint synthesizer by running the Path: Paint Paths : Full Layer menu command shown below.  This menu command paints in the set of bezier paths in the current layer’s bezier path frame using the current paint synthesizer settings.

For this particular example, i used a paint synthesizer preset that is capable of vector drawing and eps output of the associated vectors. Each bezier path is actually rendered as a bezier region by the paint synthesizer preset used for drawing the bezier paths, where the shape of the generated region defines a simulation of a paint or ink stroke that varies in width over the course of the path drawing. Because the final output was a vector eps file, the sketch is resolution independent and could be printed at extremely high resolutions or large print sizes if desired without losing any detail in the print.

When outputting vector artwork in Studio Artist 4 you can choose between eps, pdf, and svg vector formats. Note that in the example above the initial bezier paths have actually been converted into bezier shapes or regions that the user interprets as thick paint strokes in the final artistic rendition.

Additional Information

There are some additional tips that discuss generating and working with bezier paths and the various vector output formats.

For more information on generating EPS vector files, check out this tip.

For more information on generating and outputting SVG vector files, check out this tip.

For more information on the new Sketch image operation effects, checkout this tip.

For more information on things you can do with bezier paths in Studio Artist check out this tip.

To learn more about how to generate paint presets that do vector drawing check out this tip.

The Vectorizer is a completely different way to generate bezier region renditions of raster source images that was not discussed in this tip. For more information on the Vectorizer check out this tip.

The classic paint synthesizer was originally designed to draw with raster paint applied to vector paths. Some limited options for anti-aliased vector drawing that bypasses the traditional raster paint engine have been added to the v4 classic paint synthesizer. This post will explain the various vector and raster-vector hybrid drawing options in more depth.

Currently in the v4 paint synthesizer there are 2 different approaches to drawing into the canvas with anti-aliased vectors. These 2 options are the ‘Vector (solid color)’ Main Render Option in the Vector Output control panel or the ‘AntiAliased Solid’ Brush Type.

Vector Output Render Options

The ‘Vector (solid color)’ main render option in the Vector Output control panel provides for anti-aliased drawing of vector lines or shapes into the raster paint canvas. It’s somewhat experimental and circumvents the normal paint synthesizer raster nib fill code, so consequently it does not support a lot of the paint synthesizer controls associated with paint nib fill.

So, you will be drawing with solid colored vectors that lack the organic complexity that can be achieved with the normal paint synthesizer Raster main render technique. Paint Fill Apply blend modulation is supported, but most of the other Paint Fill Setup and Paint FIll Apply controls will be ignored when in Vector (solid color) main render option. Similarly the Brush Source horizontal and vertical size controls are supported to setup a maximum brush size but most of the other Brush Source and the Brush Type controls are ignored.

The ‘Vector-Raster Repeat’ main render option can be used with a Path Application ‘Repeat Stroke’ setting greater than 1. The first application pass will be drawn with the Vector (solid color) main render option and then subsequent path application repeats will revert to the normal raster main render option for drawing. This allows you to create a hybrid paint preset that combines vector drawing with secondary raster paint effects. So you could draw with an anti-aliased vector stroke painting a solid color stroke that then spreads and melts with a secondary water stroke pass. This works because the vector drawing ignores many of the paint synth controls associated with brush generation and paint nib fill while they are all used during the repeat strokes that are using the raster main render option.

AntiAliased Solid Brush Type

The ‘AntiAliased Solid’ Brush Type also provides for anti-aliased drawing of vector paths. It’s somewhat more tightly integrated into the paint synthesizer than the vector render technique described above, but has a similar limitation in that many paint synthesizer controls will be ignored when using this brush type.

This is because vector drawing will fill with a solid color (or color gradient), so options like using the source image or the brush load module for filling don’t apply when doing vector painting. The AnitAliased Brush Type does provide for additional rim coloring, gradient shading and transparency functionality when painting. The Type parameter also allows for a range of different vector drawing styles. You can draw with vector shapes applied to the path (sphere, ellipse, blob, internal bezier path memory, text) or draw the complete path as a vector polygon or spline path.

The Dual Fill options also allow for hybrid paint presets to be constructed that combine vector drawing with additional raster paint effects in a single paint stroke. Full apply means that the vector path is drawn and then the normal raster paint engine overdraws using the same path. Mix Apply means that the 2nd algorithm only in a dual Mix Apply fill algorithm is used for the second raster engine paint pass. This provides an easy way to build hybrid vector-raster paint presets that first do vector drawing followed by wet or watery raster paint effects that soften or melt the solid color vector path.

Region as Brush Mode 

Both of the vector drawing options described above also work with region fill as brush pen modes. When used with these pen modes you can draw arbitrary shaped vector regions that then fill with solid color or color gradient fills.

The Region Fill as Brush pen mode also has a Repeat Option parameter that can be used in conjunction with the AntiAliased Solid dual fill feature. The repeat option provides a way to first fill in a solid region shape and then stroke the outline of the region with subsequent path applications. So you can use this feature with Dual Fill hybrid drawing so that the interior of the region is filled with vector drawing and then the outlines of the region are stroked with a raster paint preset. This is a very effective way to build watercolor style presets, since the interior or a region can be filled with solid color or a color gradient while the region outline can then be automatically blended with a water or wet paint preset during the second dual fill repeat pass.

Vector Output vs Raster Output

Studio Artist normally draws into a raster frame buffer. Each layer has it’s own associated raster frame buffer. So even if you are drawing with anti-aliased vectors that drawing is taking place into a raster frame buffer. If you save your canvas you are saving a raster image file. When you print using the normal File : Print menu you are printing from a raster frame buffer.

However, Studio Artist provides several different ways to output vector files as opposed to the normal raster image file output. You can output to EPS, SVG, or PDF vector formats. There are menu commands under the main Action menu to generate EPS or SVG from a paint action sequence. So you would record your paint steps in a PASeq and then run one of these menu commands to generate the appropriate vector file (or to print using the generated SVG vectors).

Since vector files are resolution independent, you can then import then into other programs like PhotoShop at extremely high resolutions. You can also print directly from the SVG vector rendering engine, which is a way to potentially take advantage of the resolution independence of vectors while printing to high resolution printers.

Here are 2 tips that discuss EPS and SVG vector generation in more detail. On the mac you can use Apple’s Preview application to read EPS or PDF files, and Preview can save an EPS file as a PDF file. If you want to generate PDF files check out the vector printing section of the SVG tip, which provides an alternative way to generate PDF files from the SVG render engine. 

The SVG vector output functionality will mirror everything you see drawn on the screen, so you should use that as your first choice when generating vector files. If you want to take your vector drawing in Studio Artist and output it as a vector file then use SVG generation and output to SVG or to PDF (via the print from SVG functionality).

The EPS vector output functionality predates the SVG fucntionaliaty and may not exactly mirror what you see drawn on the screen. It does have features to try and convert raster paint strokes into vector output, so if you want to generate some kind of vector output from raster paint presets then EPS output would be the way to go. 

Keep in mind that it’s extremely easy to generate vector files in Studio Artist with millions of internal vectors. Some external programs are better than others for dealing with files containing large numbers of vectors. For example, Illustrator can read SVG but we have found it often chokes on SVG files containing large number of internal vectors. It will typically do better if the same set of vectors is saved as a PDF file.

Studio Artist v4 has the ability to generate SVG vector output. This capability can also be used as an alternative way to generate PDF vector output with some advantages over the older EPS vector output techniques. This post will focus on explaining how to use the Generate SVG functionality in Studio Artist 4 and the differences between the SVG and EPS vector functionality.

SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics and is a standardized vector file format. One big advantage of SVG over EPS vector output is that the SVG file format can support transparency for vector elements. So you can use the Generate SVG functionality in Studio Artist to create SVG or PDF files that contain semi-transparent vector elements.

Studio Artist is primarily a raster graphics program as far as output is concerned. When you do a normal File menu ‘Save Canvas As’ or ‘Print’, the internal raster canvas is saved as a raster file or printed using the internal raster frame buffers.

However, the new v4 paint synthesizer classic has the ability to be configured to do real anti-aliased vector drawing into the raster frame buffer. The v4 Vectorizer also allows for anti-aliased vector drawing into the internal raster frame buffers. The Generate SVG functionality is directly built into the internal vector drawing engine used for anti-aliased vector drawing in v4. This contrasts with the older Studio Artist EPS vector output functionality, which was always a secondary generation process that occurred after the initial raster drawing step.

Anti-aliased Vector Drawing in the Paint Synthesizer

Currently in v4 there are 2 different approaches to drawing into the canvas with anti-aliased vectors. These 2 options are the ‘Vector (solid color)’ Main Render Option in the Vector Output control panel or the ‘AntiAliased Solid’ Brush Type.

The ‘Vector (solid color)’ main render option in the Vector Output control panel provides for anti-aliased drawing of vector lines or shapes into the raster paint canvas. It’s somewhat experimental and circumvents the normal paint synthesizer raster nib fill code, so consequently it does not support a lot of the paint synthesizer controls associated with paint nib fill. So, you will be drawing with solid colored vectors that lack the organic complexity that can be achieved with the normal paint synthesizer Raster main render technique. Paint Fill Apply blend modulation is supported, but most of the other Paint Fill Setup and Paint FIll Apply controls will be ignored when in Vector (solid color) main render option. Similarly the Brush Source horizontal and vertical size controls are supported but most of the other Brush Source and the Brush Type controls are ignored.

The ‘Vector-Raster Repeat’ main render option can be used with a Path Application ‘Repeat Stroke’ setting greater than 1. The first application pass will be drawn with the Vector (solid color) main render option and then subsequent path application repeats will revert to the normal raster main render option for drawing. This allows you to create a hybrid paint preset that combines vector drawing with secondary raster paint effects. So you could draw with an anti-aliased vector stroke that then spreads and melts with a secondary water stroke pass. This works because the vector drawing ignores many of the paint synth controls associated with brush generation and paint nib fill while they are all used during the repeat strokes that are using the raster main render option.

The ‘AntiAliased Solid’ Brush Type also provides for anti-aliased drawing of vector paths. It’s somewhat more tightly integrated into the paint synthesizer than the vector render technique described above, but has a similar limitation in that many paint synthesizer controls will be ignored when using this brush type. The AnitAliased Brush Type provides for additional rim coloring, gradient shading and transparency functionality when painting.

The Dual Fill options also allow for hybrid paint presets to be constructed that combine vector drawing with additional raster paint effects in a single paint stroke.

Generate SVG Options

There are 3 different menu command options associated with generating SVG. The first 2 can be used to generate a SVG file using the Vectorizer or a Paint Action Sequence (PASeq). If generating SVG from a PASeq then only the action steps in the PASeq that support SVG output will generate SVG vectors when the PASeq plays back when you run the menu command. Currently SVG output can be generated from the Vectorizer and from Paint Synthesizer presets that use the ‘AntiAliased Solid’ Brush Type or the ’Vector (solid color)’ main render option as described above.

The third Generate SVG option allows you to print with a PASeq. This menu command will generate SVG vectors from the PASeq but instead of saving them as a SVG file the vectors are used directly for printing. A standard print dialog will come up and you can then choose a printer to print to or on the mac you can choose the PDF : Save as PDF option to generate a PDF file. Normal printing from Studio Artist using the ‘File : Print’ menu print the raster draw canvas. This new print option in the Generate SVG menus allows for vectors generated from the playing PASeq to be directly sent to the print driver. For the restricted range of Studio Artist operations that can generate SVG output this second print option provides a way to achieve higher quality prints without having a large raster frame buffer size and a way to generate true vector PDF files. These vector PDF files could then be re-rasterized for printing at higher resolution when imported into other programs like Photoshop or read directly into vector programs such as Illustrator.

SVG vs EPS Generation

The SVG generation functionality is a new v4 feature directly supported by the new anti-alias vector drawing code in Studio Artist 4. The EPS generation functionality was available in previous versions of Studio Artist and is a secondary process that occurs after the initial raster drawing code is executed. SVG generation will more closely match what you see drawn on the screen since the SVG vector generation occurs at the same time the anti-aliased vector drawing is occurring on the screen.

The EPS generation functionality is a secondary process that occurs after the raster drawing takes place. So the generated EPS vector paint strokes may look very different than what was drawn on the screen. However, the Vec Blanking EPS Strokes options provided in the Vector Output control panel do provide a way to use the Vectorizer to convert each raster paint stroke into a vector representation. SVG generation would output nothing for these raster paint strokes since they do not use the ‘AntiAliased Solid’ Brush Type or the ’Vector (solid color)’ main render option. So depending on what you are trying to achieve both the EPS and the SVG generation options have their uses.

A big advantage of SVG vector output is that the SVG file format supports transparent vector regions and paths.  This support of vector transparency allows for the creation of much more elaborate vector imagery. By creating a PASeq that builds up an image using multiple applications of semi-transparent vector paint strokes or Vectorizer passes you can achieve effects that appear to be raster in nature but are still scalable vector images.

EPS vector generation is described in more detail in this tip.

SVG Input

Studio Artist can read SVG files as source images but they are currently converted into a raster image when opened using New Canvas or Open Source. We would like to provide an option in the future to import SVG files as vector input to the current layer’s bezier frame buffer.

EPS stands for encapsulated postscript and is a vector file format. The advantage of vector files over raster image files is that a vector file is essentially resolution independent and can be rescaled smoothly to any resolution. Raster image files are pixel based image files and while they can be resized with something like Studio Artist’s Supersizer interpolator there will be visual artifacts introduced by the rescaling process.

There are 2 different ways you can create EPS vector artwork in Studio Artist. You can output an EPS file directly from the Vectorizer. Or you can record a Paint Action Sequence (PASeq) using action steps that can generate EPS output (the Vectorizer, Paint Synthesizer, and Set to Background options) and then render the PASeq output as an EPS file. There are individual command menus under the main Action : Generate EPS menu for both of these 2 options.

Vectorizer

The Vectorizer takes a raster image and converts it into a flat vector representation. The raster source can be the source image or the current canvas. Depending on how you adjust the controls in the Vectorizer you can generate a wide variety of different aesthetic styles. The version 4 vectorizer has the option of rendering the vector output in the Studio Artist canvas as either a Pixel raster Fill or a Vector Antialiased representation. The Vector Anitaliased option gives a better indication of what the EPS file will look like when rendered in another program.

In the Vector Drawing control panel are some additional EPS parameters that give you additional control over how the EPS file is generated from the Vectorizer output. If you are not getting complete coverage in the rendered EPS file try increasing the EPS Outline Size.

Paint Synthesizer Classic

The Paint Synthesizer drawing engine is primarily designed as a raster paint engine. This is what enables the paint synthesizer to create rich organic raster paint effects. However, you can do vector drawing directly using the paint synthesizer, or you can automatically convert a raster paint stroke into vector output. There are several adjustable parameter options located in the paint synthesizer Vector Output control panel that determine how a raster paint stroke is converted into an EPS vector representation when used to generate an EPS file.  

Each of the EPS Stroke options provides a different way to convert a raster paint stroke into an EPS vector representation. They all look different, so they provide some artistic flexibility that can be exploited in your artwork. However, be aware they all have stylized looks associated with flat color vector output and are not going to convey the same artistic message or degree of subtle variability as the full raster paint engine can.

Studio Artist 4 has a new vector render option for the paint synthesizer. This new vector render option generates anitaliased vector drawing directly from the paint synthesizer. Note that when it is turned on the EPS Strokes conversion option described above disappears and a new Vector Stroke Type parameter option is made available instead. This is because there is no need to convert a raster paint stroke into an eps vector representation since you are drawing directly with vectors in this case. The Vector Stroke Type option lets you choose how the display vectors are being generated from your drawing and the eps output just passes those display vectors into the generated eps file.

The Vector Render Option is somewhat experimental and still under development. Be aware that much of the paint synthesizer’s advanced functionality does not affect the appearance of the vector drawing since it was designed for a raster paint engine. The Vector Solid Color render option is very useful for drawing thin tight lines.

Viewing EPS Files

Studio Artist currently does not support EPS import.  However, Apple’s Preview application will open eps files generated from Studio Artist or other applications and convert them to PDF files.  You can also have the option to save them as rasterized image files like jpeg or tiff, and these exported files can then be easily opened into Studio Artist.  You can also import EPS files into other programs like PhotoShop or Illustrator for rendering at arbitrary resolutions or printing.

SVG vs EPS Vector Output

Studio Artist also supports SVG vector output. Again, you can generate SVG output using the Vectorizer or a PASeq. Historically, the EPS output support has been in Studio Artist for awhile, and the code that generates the EPS vectors in the paint synthesizer occurs as a secondary process after the initial raster drawing occurs. This secondary process to generate a vector stroke for EPS output may generate vector output that looks very different from the raster paint drawn into the raster canvas. 

The SVG output is a new feature in v4 and is much more closely tied to the actual code that draws into the raster frame buffer if that code is doing vector drawing into the raster frame buffer. In the paint synthesizer this would be the ‘Vector (solid color)’ main Render Option or the ‘AntiAliased Solid’ Brush Type. Unlike the EPS output support, only paint synthesizer presets that use actual vector drawing internally will generate SVG output.  So currently in v4 you would need to use the ‘Vector (solid color)’ main Render Option or the ‘AntiAliased Solid’ Brush Type if you wanted to generate SVG vector output from the paint synthesizer.

The ‘Generate SVG : Print with Paint Action Sequence…’ menu allows you to send generated SVG output to a standard print dialog. You can then print directly from the generated vector output. The difference between this special SVG print functionality and the normal ‘File : Print’ menu is that Studio Artist normally prints from the raster frame buffers internally used for it’s draw canvas, while the special Generate SVG print menu actually prints based on the generated SVG vectors.

On a Mac you can also use the ‘PDF : Save as PDF…’ menu available via the menu button in the Mac standard print dialog to generate a PDF file from the generated SVG vector output. So this is a way to generate PDF output that is an alternative to the EPS vector output described above.

More information on SVG generation and output can be found in this tip.

Since SVG vector output is more closely tied to the actual vector draw code the paint synthesizer uses internally for any paint presets that perform vector drawing it can often generate vector output that more closely matches what is seen in the Studio Artist raster draw canvas. Assuming you are using paint presets that support vector drawing, specifically the ’Vector (solid color)’ main Render Option or the ‘AntiAliased Solid’ Brush Type. So for those kinds of paint presets in a PASeq, using the ’Generate SVG : Print with Paint Action Sequence…’ menu and then ‘PDF : Save as PDF…’ option in the print dialog provide an alternative to the EPS output options described above.