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 )
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

/depot/bin/autotrace: binary

AUTHORS

Martin Weber (martweb@gmx.net)