File export and import options

Combining files for pleasing visuals requires more than one file format.

The primary purpose for the majority of the applications in this month’s Roundup is to take notes, either for teaching purposes or to help develop new projects. As such, it’s crucial that you can move your work files over to other applications where necessary.

For example, if you have the basic idea for a logo after working up the basic shapes in the whiteboard software, you could then refine it in Inkscape. The best file format for this is, of course, SVG while PDF is a better format for sending documents for review and comment. If you want to add your results to other graphical projects in GIMP or Krita, then PNG and JPG export options are useful.

Exporting to PNG is universally supported; however, SVG is lacking in the tested version of Lorien (although version 0.5.0 has this export option). Rnote stands out by being able to export to SVG, PDF and Xournal++. It can also export a selection as well as the entire document. Naturally, you can use these formats in other documents such as ODT or a web page project. Importing can also be useful when you need to refer to external information, real events or you want to go through a PDF’s content. Rnote, Xournal++ and OpenBoard have this capability, initially designed to annotate the PDF you’re reading. After importing a document you can draw lines and circles, and highlight what you want to talk about. With a little more artistic effort you can make compelling presentations commenting on other people’s content. The amount of import options in OpenBoard is impressive. For example, the program makes use of the common video file formats for playing a video.