Convert and Render

How does the conversion of Daruma work?

1. Parsing the design files' raw data is the first step. Design files originating from numerous different design applications, including Figma, Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, etc. The design files' content will be read during the parsing process and transformed into a data structure that computers can comprehend.
2. It is necessary to further convert the data from the parsed design file into JSON format. The lightweight JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) data exchange format is simple to read and write, and it is well supported by a number of different programming languages.
3. Before converting the parsed data into JSON format, it is required to arrange and appropriately organize the data. Filtering and extracting the necessary data may be involved, as well as creating suitable data structures for processing afterwards.
4. Different components of the design file, such as layers, elements, and artboards, are created into a single JSON file after the data has been organized and converted.
5. The resulting JSON data can be kept on your local file system for future use. As an alternative, you can send data via a network to additional servers or applications for processing or display.

What is rendering?

The process of converting data or content into a visual output or display is referred to as rendering. In the discipline of computer science, rendering is frequently used to convert abstract data or information into forms that humans can perceive and understand, such as images, text, audio, or video. Offline rendering and real-time rendering are the two types of rendering that are available from VGG. Both render design files using the same underlying visual capabilities, but offline rendering is performed on the server while real-time rendering occurs within the VGG engine, allowing for real-time interaction with design file data. Daruma has a preview feature that lets you assess the generated result.

What's next?

At Daruma, you can not only upload, convert, and render design files but also preview rendered images, obtain design.json data, and access various design resources. Moreover, you have the ability to utilize the generated data and images for further development. For example, in your own editor, you can import the data generated by Daruma (please refer to the definition document of Daruma Formats for the data format). We have plans to allow you to directly build applications within VGG based on design files. We call this capability "Design as Code".

At the same time, Daruma Formats are open. If you have your own data that needs to be rendered into various image formats such as PNG, SVG¹, PDF², etc., you can refer to our specifications and convert the data into Daruma Formats before using Daruma to help render images. In other words, Daruma is not only a universal design format but also similar to an intermediate representation in compilers. It serves as a central hub for design data and acts as the backbone of your design and development workflow.