SVG，代表 “Scalable Vector Graphics（可缩放矢量图形）”，是一种越来越流行的矢量图形文件格式，与光栅图形相比，其中图形元素以与分辨率无关的格式表示；其中图形元素表示为像素阵列。GIMP主要是光栅图形程序，但路径是矢量实体。

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.

该SVG格式处理的不仅仅是路径还有许多其他图形元素：包括其他事项外，它还处理的数据，如正方形、长方形、圆形、椭圆形、正多边形等。GIMP不能处理的这些实体，但它可以加载它们的路径。