Generate Readable SVG Tarot Card Images For PRs

Hey guys! Let's dive into how we can make reviewing SVG tarot card images in pull requests (PRs) way easier. Right now, because of content policy restrictions, external images in SVGs aren't visible directly in the GitHub PR review window. This makes it a bit of a pain to see what's changing. So, we're going to switch to using local file paths in the SVGs we generate, especially in our sample directory. This way, everyone can see the samples clearly, both when browsing GitHub and when reviewing PRs.

Leveraging Local Images for Enhanced Visibility

To kick things off, I've added a static images directory under tests/resources. This directory includes images perfect for a couple of scenarios. We've got one that's ideal for the Fool card, where we'll be suppressing the title, image, and number. There's also one that suits the Magician card, and we'll use it in tests where we're suppressing the title, image, and number as well. We'll then try another variation where we don't suppress the number, just to see how it looks.

Testing with Fool and Magician Card Images

For the Fool and Magician cards, the goal is to create a minimalist representation. By suppressing the title, image, and number, we focus on the core essence of the card's symbolism. This approach is particularly useful for abstract or stylized decks where the visual representation might deviate significantly from traditional imagery. The tests will ensure that our SVG generation correctly handles these suppression options, providing a flexible framework for creating various card designs.

When we suppress the title, image, and number, we're essentially stripping the card down to its bare bones. This can be a powerful design choice, allowing the viewer to project their own interpretations onto the card. It also highlights the importance of the card's suit and rank, which remain visible and provide the primary context for understanding the card's meaning. This minimalist approach can be particularly effective in decks that emphasize symbolism and intuition over traditional iconography.

Exploring Variations: Suppressing Title, Image, and Number

Next, we'll explore a variation where we suppress only the title and image but leave the number visible. This adds another layer of complexity to our testing, ensuring that the number is correctly rendered and positioned within the card design. The number plays a crucial role in understanding the card's meaning, particularly in the Minor Arcana, where the numbers correspond to specific stages of development and experience. By including the number, we provide a crucial clue to the card's interpretation while still maintaining a degree of minimalism in the overall design.

The tests will cover different number styles and placements, ensuring that the number integrates seamlessly with the rest of the card design. This attention to detail is essential for creating a visually appealing and informative card that effectively communicates its meaning to the reader. We'll also experiment with different fonts and sizes to find the optimal balance between readability and aesthetic appeal. The goal is to create a number that is both prominent and unobtrusive, enhancing the card's overall design without overwhelming the other elements.

Incorporating a Generic Tarot Card Back

We also have a generic tarot card back image, which should look fantastic for cards where we're not suppressing any data. Let's put this to work for one Major Arcana card, one Minor Arcana number card, and one Minor Arcana face card. This will give us a good spread of examples and ensure the back image integrates seamlessly with different card types.

Major Arcana Card

For the Major Arcana card, we'll select a card that embodies strong visual symbolism, allowing the generic back to complement the card's imagery without overshadowing it. The Major Arcana cards represent significant life events and archetypal figures, so it's crucial to choose a card that resonates with the reader and evokes a sense of depth and meaning. The generic back will provide a consistent visual element across the deck, creating a cohesive and professional look.

Minor Arcana Number Card

The Minor Arcana number card will showcase how the generic back works with the numbered cards, which represent the more mundane aspects of life and daily experiences. The numbers themselves carry symbolic weight, and the generic back will provide a neutral backdrop that allows the numbers to stand out and convey their message effectively. We'll focus on ensuring that the number is clearly visible and legible against the background, as this is essential for the card's interpretability.

Minor Arcana Face Card

Finally, the Minor Arcana face card will demonstrate how the generic back interacts with the court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King), which represent different personality types and approaches to life. The face cards are often depicted with intricate artwork, and the generic back will provide a subtle contrast that enhances the card's visual appeal. We'll pay close attention to the overall balance of the card design, ensuring that the generic back complements the face card's imagery without competing for attention.

Updating Samples for Local Image Paths

Next up, we're going to update the samples for the background (bg) to use these local images instead of external URLs. This is a big step towards making our SVGs more self-contained and easier to review.

Streamlining the Review Process

By using local image paths, we eliminate the dependency on external resources, which can be unreliable or inaccessible. This means that reviewers can see the full picture of the SVG design without having to worry about broken links or content policy restrictions. It also simplifies the process of testing and debugging, as we can be confident that all the necessary resources are available locally.

The transition to local image paths is a crucial step in creating a more robust and user-friendly SVG generation system. It demonstrates our commitment to quality and attention to detail, ensuring that our tarot card images are both visually appealing and easily accessible.

Retaining Samples with External URLs

To keep things balanced, we'll keep two samples using external URLs. This is partly for historical purposes and partly to document the use case for external images. We'll stick with the Fool version (suppressing title, number, and emoji) and the generic background one. For one of the Minor Arcana cards, we won't suppress anything, giving us a full picture of how external images work in different scenarios.

Documenting the Use Case for External Images

While local image paths offer significant advantages in terms of reliability and accessibility, there are still situations where external URLs might be necessary or desirable. For example, if we're using images from a content delivery network (CDN) or a third-party source, it might be more efficient to reference them via URL rather than including them directly in the SVG file.

By retaining a couple of samples with external URLs, we provide a valuable reference point for developers who need to work with external images. We also highlight the trade-offs between using local and external resources, allowing developers to make informed decisions based on their specific needs and constraints.

Balancing Historical Context and Modern Practices

Maintaining a historical perspective is essential for understanding the evolution of our SVG generation system. By keeping the Fool version with external URLs, we preserve a snapshot of how things were done in the past, allowing us to appreciate the progress we've made and the challenges we've overcome.

At the same time, we're embracing modern best practices by prioritizing local image paths for most of our samples. This ensures that our SVGs are as robust and user-friendly as possible, while still acknowledging the historical context that has shaped our current approach.

Conclusion

This approach strikes a balance between practical usability and historical context. By prioritizing local file paths, we make our SVGs more accessible and easier to review in PRs, while still acknowledging the use case for external URLs. It's all about making the development process smoother and ensuring everyone can easily see the awesome tarot card images we're generating!

This initiative enhances the readability and maintainability of our project, ensuring that our tarot card images are both visually appealing and easily accessible to everyone involved in the development process. By combining local image paths with a thoughtful approach to testing and documentation, we're creating a robust and user-friendly SVG generation system that will serve us well into the future.