NAME
autotrace - converts bitmap image data into vector graphics
SYNOPSIS
autotrace [-background-color hexvalue] [-centerline] [-color-count
int] [-corner-always-threshold angle] [-corner-surround int]
[-corner-threshold angle] [-despeckle-level int] [-despeckle-
tightness real] [-dpi int] [-error-threshold real] [-filter-
iterations int] [-help] [-input-format format] [-line-reversion-
threshold real] [-line-threshold real] [-list-input-formats] [-list-
output-formats] [-log] [-output-file file] [-output-format format]
[-preserve-width] [-remove-adjacent-corners] [-report-progress]
[-debug-arch] [-debug-bitmap] [-tangent-surround int] [-version]
[-width-factor real] inputfile
DESCRIPTION
The autotrace program accepts bitmap graphics from the file inputfile
specified on the command line, and as output produces a collection of
splines approximating the original image, the converting the image from
bitmap to vector format. It behaves in a manner similar to the
commercial software known as *tream*ine or *orel*race. The result is
sent to standard output unless the -output-file option is active.
OPTIONS
Options can begin with either -- or -. Any unambiguous abbreviation
can be used for the option name. Option names and values can be
separated with either a space or equal sign (=).
-background-color hexvalue
Employ the color specified by the hexadecimal code hexcode as
the background that should be ignored, for example FFFFFF
(default: no background color).
-centerline
Trace an object’s centerline (default: employ its outline).
-color-count int
Reduce the bitmap to using the number of colors specified by the
unsigned integer int (range: 1-256). The default value of 0
indicates that no color reduction is to be done. Does not work
with grayscale images.
-corner-always-threshold angle
Consider any angle at a pixel which falls below the specified
angle (in degrees) as a corner, even if it is bordered by other
corner pixels (default: 60).
-corner-surround int
Consider the specified number of pixels on either side of a
point when determining if that point is a corner (default: 4).
-corner-threshold angle
Consider any pixel which forms an angle with its predecessor(s)
and successor(s) that is smaller than the specified angle (in
degrees) as a corner (default: 100).
-despeckle-level int
Employ the specified integer (range: 1-20) as the value for
despeckling (default: no despeckling).
-despeckle-tightness real
Employ the specified real number (range: 0.0-8.0) as the value
for despeckle tightness (default: 2.0).
-dpi int
The dots per inch value in the input image, affects scaling of
mif output image.
-error-threshold real
Subdivide fitted curves that are offset by a number of pixels
exceeding the specified real number (default: 2.0).
-filter-iterations int
Smooth the curve the specified number of times prior to fitting
(default: 4).
-help Print a help message and exit.
-input-format format
Employ the specified input format, where format is one of:
BMP (Windows bitmap format)
PBM (Portable BitMap format)
PGM (Portable Graymap format)
PNM (Portable Anymap format)
PPM (Portable Pixmap format)
TGA (Targa format)
The supported input formats are determined when the application
is built and depend upon the availability of other software (the
-list-input-formats command can be used to determine which are
supported locally).
-line-reversion-threshold real
When a spline is closer to a straight line than the specified
real number weighted by the square of the curve length (default:
.01), maintain it as a straight line, even if it is a list with
curves.
-line-threshold real
If a spline does not deviate from the straight line defined by
its endpoints by more than the specified number of pixels, then
treat it as a straight line (default: 1).
-list-input-formats
Send a list of the supported input formats to stderr.
-list-output-formats
Send a list of the supported output formats to stderr.
-log Send a detailed progress report to the file inputfile.log.
-output-file file
Send the output to the specified file.
-output-format format
Employ the specified output format, where format is one of:
ai(Adobe Illustrator)
cgm(Computer Graphics Metafile)
dr2d(IFF DR2D format, used almost exclusively on Amiga
platforms)
dxf(AutoCAD Drawing Exchange format)
emf(Windows Enhanced Metafile format)
epd(Encapsulated Vectorial Graphics format)
eps(Encapsulated PostScript)
er(Elastic Reality Shape format)
fig(xfig (1) 3.2)
mif(FrameMaker MIF format)
pdf(Portable Data Format)
p2e(pstoedit (1) frontend)
sk(Sketch)
svg(Scalable Vector Graphics)
swf(Shockwave Flash 3)
The supported output formats are determined when the application
is built and depend upon the availability of other software (the
-list-output-formats command can be used to determine which are
supported locally).
-preserve-width
Whether to preserve line width prior to thinning.
-remove-adjacent-corners
Remove adjacent corners.
-report-progress
Report tracing status in real time.
-debug-arch
Print the type of cpu.
-debug-bitmap
Dump loaded bitmap to <input_name>.bitmap.
-tangent-surround int
Consider the specified number of points to either side of a
point when computing the tangent at that point (default: 3).
-version
Print the version number of the program and exit.
-width-factor real
Weight factor for fitting the linewidth.
FILES
/usr/bin/autotrace binary
SEE ALSO
gimp(1), ImageMagick(1), pbm(1), pgm(1), pnm(1), ps2pdf(1),
pstoedit(1), pstoepd(1), sketch(1), xfig(1), xv(1)
AUTHORS
Martin Weber (martweb@gmx.net)
Manual page by R. P. C. Rodgers, Lister Hill National Center for
Biomedical Communications, U.S. National Library of Medicine
(rodgers@nlm.nih.gov).
10 October 2002