Vectorization of bitmaps

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autumnleaf
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2015 2:24 am

Vectorization of bitmaps

Postby autumnleaf » Mon Feb 15, 2016 1:04 am

Hi,
I'm doing mostly raster graphics, and sometimes I have black and white drawings which I vectorize in Inkscape. It looks like in attachment [1]. Is there any simple way to have my vector not as a "shape" [attachment 2, left] but as lines [att.2, right]? Besides manually outlining, of course :) My drawings are usually even more "linear" than that attached, I mean, the lines are of more even width across the drawing.
Attachments
2.jpg
2.jpg (109.94 KiB) Viewed 1808 times
1.jpg
1.jpg (84.66 KiB) Viewed 1808 times
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Moini
Posts: 3381
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:44 am

Re: Vectorization of bitmaps

Postby Moini » Mon Feb 15, 2016 2:05 am

Not unless you redraw it in Inkscape (and even then variable stroke width created by a graphics tablet and pen is not yet available as a path effect in 0.91, I believe). The tracing algorithm only creates filled areas, not stroked paths.
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hulf2012
Posts: 716
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2012 12:37 pm

Re: Vectorization of bitmaps

Postby hulf2012 » Mon Feb 15, 2016 2:26 am

Hello

What I know:
In inkscape tracing system it's not possible to find the centerline of black and white drawings. You will have to do "by hand", using bezier tool, or hand tool, and node editing :tool_pen: :tool_pencil: :tool_node:

Now, there exist programs on internet that can do what you require one of them is autotrace

Here a tutorial of what is capable:
http://www.kgdcraftermath.com/2014/02/s ... autotrace/

There was an online tool using autotrace, but it's down right now:
http://www.roitsystems.com/cgi-bin/autotrace/tracer.pl

The webpage of the project (which seems to have stoped)
http://autotrace.sourceforge.net/
If you have problems:
1.- Post a sample (or samples) of your file please.
2.- Please check here:
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/index.html
3.- If you manage to solve your problem, please post here your solution.
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autumnleaf
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2015 2:24 am

Re: Vectorization of bitmaps

Postby autumnleaf » Mon Feb 15, 2016 6:20 am

hulf2012, thanks! I'll check it :)
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v1nce
Posts: 696
Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:36 am

Re: Vectorization of bitmaps

Postby v1nce » Tue Feb 16, 2016 12:09 pm

so you are VECTORIZING LINE DRAWINGS WITH NEAR-CONSTANT LINE WIDTH
I don't know of good FOSS for that.

if you're on windows maybe have a look at http://wintopo.com/wintopo-freeware.htm
(even if the freeware version seems to lack a despeckle fiter which probably will make it quite useless ...) and it can't export in svg (but in some other format (wmf) that inkscape should be able to open)
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cleversomeday
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:52 am

Re: Vectorization of bitmaps

Postby cleversomeday » Tue Feb 16, 2016 3:13 pm

2 additional tools I will mention. Rapidresizer.com is another online tool which can do a centerline trace and save as svg. Tutorial here https://cleversomeday.wordpress.com/201 ... enterline/
The free iPad app from AutoDesk called VectorizeIt also has centerline tracing. Also saves as SVG via email.
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