| Keyboard Shortcut | Menu Shortcut | Menu Location |
| V | Alt+C, V | Vector -> Vector Convert |
The Vector Convert command converts edges and outlines in an image into vector lines, curves, circles, and arcs which can be exported for use in a CAD or vector graphics program.
There are two phases of the vector conversion process: Contour Detection and Vector Tracing.
The Contour Detection phase attempts to reduce the image to thin black-and-white outlines. To do so it will perform up to four processing operations:
Color reduction reduces the number of colors in the image. This can be helpful when trying to locate the boundaries of a region where all the pixels are of a similar color
Enable Color Reduction
Check this box to enable the color reduction process.
Percentage
The number of colors in the original is reduced by the percentage shown here. For example, a 75% reduction would reduce a 256-color image to 64 colors.
Converts the image to black and white.
Threshold
Sets the brightness level a pixel must exceed to be colored white. All pixels at or below this brightness are colored black.
Set to Default Level
This button will select a default threshold based on the median brightness level in the image.
Convert before Outline Detection
The conversion to black and white occurs either immediately before the outline detection phase, or immediately after the outline detection phase. For most multi-color images this box should not be checked. For some grayscale images, or color scans of line drawings, this box may be checked. Each image is different – try it both ways.
This is where MagicTracer decides which parts of the image are important enough to trace.
Detection Methods
Use Negative Image
performs contour detection on a the reverse of the original image
Reduces the width of wide black lines or areas. Vector generation works best when the the lines are only 1 pixel wide.
Enable Line Thinning
Check this box to enable line thinning. Uncheck the box to skip line thinning.
Amount
specifies the maximum number of pixels to trim from each side of a wide line or area. No line will be reduced to less than 1 pixel in width.
Keep Original Image
If this box is checked, the contour detection will be performed on a temporary copy of the image; after vector conversion is completed, the original raster data will be restored. If the box is not checked, the original image is replaced by the results of the contour detection process.
Enable Real-time Preview
Check this box to see how the contour detection results are affected by changes to the controls on this page. For very large images, however, this can be a slow process. In such cases you may prefer to disable this option, and instead click on the Preview button after changing the settings.
Enable Superimposition
Checking this option will show the detected contours as black lines superimposed on top of the original image. If “Enable Real-time Preview” is not checked above, you will have to click the Preview button to see the results.
Note: If your image has already been reduced to black and white, you may optionally skip the Contour Detection phase:
The Vector Tracing Phase traces the black-and-white outlines generated by the Contour Detection Phase and generates entities – lines, curves, arcs, and circles. After confirming (or skipping) the Contour Detection dialog box, you are presented with the Vector Convert dialog box. All of these settings interact with one another, so it may take some fiddling to get the desired result for a particular image.
Line Smoothing Level
Line smoothing involves dropping points from the traced line. The higher the setting, the more points are dropped. This control has the strongest overall effect on the resulting vectors.
Line Straighten Angle
This setting determines the maximum threshold angle for straightening two consecutive line segments.
Line Connection Gap
MagicTracer can bridge gaps between lines. This setting determines the maximum gap distance that MagicTracer will attempt to join together.
Enable Angle Checking
If this option checked, MagicTracer may refuse to connect two lines across a gap if the lines aren't close enough to the same angle.
Line Connection Angle
If the angle between two lines exceeds this angle, and Enable Angle Checking is turned on, MagicTracer will not attempt to connect the lines across a gap, even when the gap is less than the maximum gap distance specified above.
Enable Orthogonal Lines Detection
Check this option to enable MagicTracer to detect horizontal and vertical lines.
Orthogonal Angle Threshold
This angle is the maximum deviation from horizontal or vertical that MagicTracer will accept when determining if a line is horizontal or vertical.
Minimum Length
This the minimum length of line that MagicTracer will create. Shorter lines are discarded.
Enable Curve Detection
This checkbox determines whether MagicTracer will attempt to detect curves.
Curve Detection Angle
This angle determines the maximum angle between two consecutive line segments that MagicTracer will consider to be part of a curve. Decrease this angle to generate less curves. Increase the angle to generate more curves.
Curve Fitting Threshold
This setting determines how easily two adjoining lines or curves can be combined into a single curve. Increase the setting to join more curves together.
Enable Circle/Arc Detection
Check this box to allow MagicTracer to try and detect circles and arcs.
Circle/Arc Threshold
This setting indicates how close to a circle or arc the shape must be to be detected as a circle or arc. Increase the setting to detect more arcs and circles; decrease the setting to detect fewer arcs and circles.
Corner Detection Level
This setting determines how strongly MagicTracer will enforce corners. The results of this value are strongly dependent on the Line Smoothing Level.
Remove All Existing Lines
Check this box to delete any existing vector entities, leaving only the newly created ones. If the box is unchecked, the new vector entities will be added to those that were already present in the project.