title: Simplifying SVG path strings by reducing number of nodes
body: <p>I am generating a large SVG path string that represents a line chart.</p>
  
  <p>Beneath the chart I have a slider for selecting a time range slice.  Behind the slider is a mini preview of the whole line chart.</p>
  
  <p>I am currently scaling down the path to generate the preview however in doing so I am ending up with tens of nodes per pixel and therefore far more detail then is necessary.  Of course this gives the browser more rendering to do than it has to.</p>
  
  <p>There is plenty of info available on compressing svg strings (gzipping etc), though little on algorithms that actually simplify the path by reducing the nodes.</p>
  
  <p>I am using Raphaeljs and am looking for a javascript based solution.  Any ideas?</p>