Export guide
Which format to choose, and what vector actually buys you.
Five formats, and the right choice depends entirely on what happens to the file next.
| Format | Choose when |
|---|---|
| SVG | The diagram may need editing later, or must stay sharp at any size |
| It is going into a document or being printed | |
| PNG | It is going somewhere that only accepts images — a chat message, a slide |
| Project file | Someone else will open it in DiagramDock |
| Mermaid | It is going into a repository alongside code |
What vector means here
SVG and PDF are generated from the diagram model, so every shape is a real vector element and every label is real text. An exported SVG opens as editable artwork in Inkscape or Illustrator, and text in an exported PDF can be selected and searched.
Some tools export SVG by embedding a screenshot inside an SVG wrapper. The file extension is the same and the result is not — you cannot select a shape, and it degrades when scaled.
Mermaid's limits
Mermaid describes structure, not appearance. Positions, colours and custom styling cannot survive the trip. For a diagram living beside code in version control, that is often a fair trade — the structure is what you want to diff.