autotrace(1)


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                   AUTOTRACE(1)





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