Generate SVG Information Cards with Embedded Fonts and Badges.

cardargus

cardargus is an R package for creating informative SVG cards with embedded styles, Google Fonts, badges, and logos. Cards are self-contained SVG files, ideal for dashboards, reports, and visualizations.

Installation

Install from CRAN:

install.packages("cardargus")

Or install the development version from GitHub:

# install.packages("devtools")
devtools::install_github("StrategicProjects/cardargus")

Basic Example

library(cardargus)

# Create an informative card
card <- svg_card(
  font = "Jost",
  title = "FAR",
  
  badges_data = list(
    list(label = "Units",         value = "500",     color = "white"),
    list(label = "Federal Grant", value = "$100M",   color = "white"),
    list(label = "State Match",   value = "$80M",    color = "white")
  ),
  
  fields = list(
    list(
      list(label = "Project Name", value = "Boa Vista Residential",
           with_icon = icon_house())
    ),
    list(
      list(label = "Address", value = "123 Flower Street - Downtown")
    ),
    list(
      list(label = "City",   value = "Olinda"),
      list(label = "Region", value = "Pernambuco")
    ),
    list(
      list(label = "Developer",   value = "State Government"),
      list(label = "Contractor",  value = "ABC Construction"), 
      list(label = "Type", value = "PS")  # optional
    )
  ),
  
  bg_color    = "#FF9900",
  title_color = "#fff",
  label_color = "#fff",
  width = 450,
  
  # You can use bundled SVGs or any local file path
  logos = c(
    get_svg_path("seduh.svg"), 
    get_svg_path("morar_bem.svg")
  ),
  logos_height = 40,
  
  bottom_logos = c(
    get_svg_path("tree.svg"), 
    get_svg_path("gov_pe.svg")
  ),
  bottom_logos_height = 40,
  
  footer = paste0(
    "Source: SEDUH/PE on ", 
    format(Sys.time(), "%Y/%m/%d at %H:%M"))
)

include_card_png(card, dpi = 300, width = '50%')

# Save as SVG
save_svg(card, "my_card.svg")

# Convert to high-quality PNG
svg_to_png(card, "my_card.png", dpi = 300)

Displaying Cards in R Markdown / Quarto

cardargus provides functions to display cards directly in your documents:

# Display card as inline SVG (best quality)
include_card(card)

# Display card as PNG (better compatibility)
include_card_png(card, dpi = 150)

# Save and get path for knitr::include_graphics()
path <- save_card_for_knitr(card, "my_card", format = "png")
knitr::include_graphics(path)

For chunk-based workflows, register the cardargus knitr engine:

# In your setup chunk
register_cardargus_knitr()

Then use cardargus as a chunk engine:

```{cardargus}`
svg_card(title = "My Card", ...)
```

Features

• 📦 Self-contained SVG: All styles and fonts embedded
• 🎨 Customizable: Colors, fonts, icons, and layouts
• 🌈 Gradient Backgrounds: CSS-style linear gradients support
• 🏷️ Badges: Shields.io-style with dynamic colors and uniform height
• 🖼️ Icons: Built-in SVG icon library
• 📄 Export: High-quality PNG with transparent background
• 🔤 Google Fonts: Native support via showtext/sysfonts
• 📊 R Markdown/Quarto: Direct display functions

Gradient Backgrounds

Use CSS-style linear gradients for dynamic card backgrounds:

# Horizontal gradient
card <- svg_card(
  title = "HOUSING",
  bg_color = "linear-gradient(to right, #1a5a3a, #2e7d32)",
  ...
)

# Diagonal gradient  
card <- svg_card(
  title = "PROGRAM",
  bg_color = "linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea, #764ba2)",
  ...
)

# Vertical gradient
card <- svg_card(
  title = "PROJECT",
  bg_color = "linear-gradient(to bottom, #00c6ff, #0072ff)",
  ...
)

Supported directions: to right, to left, to top, to bottom, or angles like 45deg, 135deg, 180deg.

Custom Cards

# Define badges
badges <- list(
  list(label = "Units", value = "500", color = "white"),
  list(label = "Status", value = "Active", color = "#4CAF50")
)

# Define fields with custom icon
fields <- list(
  list(
    list(label = "Project", value = "Housing Development")
  ),
  list(
    list(label = "City", value = "Pesqueira"),
    list(label = "State", value = "Pernambuco")
  )
)

# Create card with logos
card <- svg_card(
  title = "HOUSING",
  badges_data = badges,
  fields = fields,
  bg_color = "#2c3e50",
  title_color = "#ecf0f1",
  width = 200,
  logos = c(get_svg_path("morar_bem.svg")),
  logos_height = 40,
)

Bundled SVGs

# List available SVGs
list_bundled_svgs()

# Get full path
get_svg_path("morar_bem.svg")

Available Icons

# Built-in icons
icon_house()        # House (default)
icon_building()     # Building
icon_construction() # Construction
icon_map_pin()      # Location
icon_money()        # Money

# Or use your own SVG file
# with_icon = "/path/to/custom_icon.svg"

Font Setup

For best font rendering:

# Setup Google Fonts (recommended)
setup_fonts()

# Or download fonts for offline use
install_fonts()

# Check font availability
font_available("Jost")

Chrome Rendering (Recommended)

For perfect font rendering with Google Fonts, use headless Chrome:

# Check if Chrome is available
chrome_available()

# If Chrome is not installed, download it automatically (~150MB)
ensure_chrome(download = TRUE)

# Convert to PNG with Chrome (best quality)
svg_to_png_chrome(card, "my_card.png", dpi = 300)

# Convert to PDF (vector output)
svg_to_pdf_chrome(card, "my_card.pdf")

# In R Markdown / Quarto - force Chrome engine
include_card_png(card, dpi = 300, engine = "chrome")

Install chromote for Chrome support:

install.packages("chromote")

Authors

• Andre Leite - Maintainer - [email protected]
• Hugo Vasconcelos - [email protected]
• Diogo Bezerra - [email protected]

License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.