SVG, standing for « Scalable Vector Graphics », is a popular file format for vector graphics, in which graphical elements are represented in a resolution-independent format, in contrast to raster graphics; in which graphical elements are represented as arrays of pixels. GIMP is mainly a raster graphics program, but paths are vector entities.

Fortunately, paths are represented in SVG files in almost exactly the same way they are represented in GIMP. This compatibility makes it possible to store GIMP paths as SVG files without losing any information. You can access this capability in the Paths Dialog.

It also means that GIMP can create paths from SVG files saved in other programs, such as Inkscape, a popular open-source vector graphics application. This is nice because dedicated vector editing programs have much more powerful path-manipulation tools than GIMP does. You can import a path from an SVG file using the Paths dialog.

Le format SVG gère bien d’autres éléments graphiques que les chemins, entre autres des carrés, des rectangles,des cercles, des ellipses, des polygones réguliers…etc. GIMP ne peut rien faire avec ces entités, mais il peut les charger en tant que chemins.