Vector tracing - Revision history

Saint: 9 revisions

2013-12-05T14:58:01Z

9 revisions

Felsir: /* Auto trace tools */

2007-11-02T09:53:54Z

‎Auto trace tools

Felsir: /* Sample */

2007-11-02T09:53:27Z

‎Sample

Felsir: /* Sample */

2007-11-02T09:53:12Z

‎Sample

Felsir: /* Auto trace tools */

2007-11-02T09:52:50Z

‎Auto trace tools

Felsir: cleaned it up, removed the 'cleanup' tag.

2007-07-18T13:28:27Z

cleaned it up, removed the 'cleanup' tag.

Felsir: /* The art of tracing */ expanded the paragraph

2007-07-18T13:27:56Z

‎The art of tracing: expanded the paragraph

Mortalpawn at 05:07, 15 July 2006

2006-07-15T05:07:47Z

Mahuti: "add content" notice is on this page

2006-03-17T20:09:00Z

"add content" notice is on this page

Felsir: Created article

2006-03-06T14:25:49Z

Created article

New page

'''Vector tracing''' is a way to convert raster files into vector images. See "[[Raster versus Vector artwork]]" why many people prefer vector images for their arcade art. Tracing can be very time consuming and labour intensive but at the same time it can produce stunning results.

==The art of tracing==
''-need to add content-''
A good tutorial on how to trace is the '''Frostillicuss vector tutorial''' which can be found [http://www.localarcade.com/4images/details.php?image_id=223 here]. Another tutorial can be found [http://frank05.critter.net/vector.html here].

==Auto trace tools==
"Labour intensive? Time consuming? Why can't a computer do this!", I hear you ask. Well, it's a very good question. First, there ''are'' tools that can trace images for you. These tools produce various results, ranging from crap to slightly usable. The main reason is this: context. Humans can make out what a shape is supposed to be even if it is abstract or fuzzy. A few white, blue and black blotches can look like an eye for humans because the context (a face) is there. A computer will still interpret those blotches, well, as blotches. The vectors it produces will be more or less accurate renditions of blotches and will remain so as the vectors are enlarged. A human artist can make these blotches into a vectorised image of an eye.

The best autotraced vectors are produced if the sourcematerial is either high contrast and low details, or of very high resolution with distinct areas of colours.

A short list of trace software:
*[http://autotrace.sourceforge.net/ AutoTrace]
*Inkscape
*Potrace
*[http://xmailserver.org/davide.html Ras2Vec]
*Adobe Illustrator
*Easy Trace
*Macromedia FreeHand

See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_to_vector Raster to vector Wikipedia article].

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_to_vector Raster to vector Wikipedia article].
-=Sample=
+==Sample==
 [[Image:Trace.JPG|640px]]
 <BR clear=all>

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 [[Image:Trace.JPG|640px]]
 <BR clear=all>
-Left - high resolution bitmap source
+Left - high resolution bitmap source<BR>
-Middle - autotraced version, high settings via [http://vectormagic.stanford.edu Vectormagic]
+Middle - autotraced version, high settings via [http://vectormagic.stanford.edu Vectormagic]<BR>
-Right - Traced by hand
+Right - Traced by hand<BR>
 As you can see, even with a high resolution image the automatic trace function isn't able to produce a well defined result.

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:52, 2 November 2007
Line 23:		Line 23:

	See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_to_vector Raster to vector Wikipedia article].		See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_to_vector Raster to vector Wikipedia article].
		+
		+	=Sample=
		+	[[Image:Trace.JPG\|640px]]
		+	<BR clear=all>
		+	Left - high resolution bitmap source
		+	Middle - autotraced version, high settings via [http://vectormagic.stanford.edu Vectormagic]
		+	Right - Traced by hand
		+
		+	As you can see, even with a high resolution image the automatic trace function isn't able to produce a well defined result.
		+

	==See Also==		==See Also==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:28, 18 July 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	~~{{Cleanup}}~~
	'''Vector tracing''' is a way to convert raster files into vector images. See "[[Raster versus Vector artwork]]" why many people prefer vector images for their arcade art. Tracing can be very time consuming and labour intensive but at the same time it can produce stunning results.		'''Vector tracing''' is a way to convert raster files into vector images. See "[[Raster versus Vector artwork]]" why many people prefer vector images for their arcade art. Tracing can be very time consuming and labour intensive but at the same time it can produce stunning results.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:07, 15 July 2006
Line 21:		Line 21:

	See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_to_vector Raster to vector Wikipedia article].		See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_to_vector Raster to vector Wikipedia article].
		+
		+	==See Also==
		+	* [[Finishing]]
		+	* [[Vendors\|Artwork Vendors]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Finishing]]

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:58, 5 December 2013
(No difference)

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 *Easy Trace
 *Macromedia FreeHand
 See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_to_vector Raster to vector Wikipedia article].

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 =The art of tracing=
-''-need to add content-''
+Tracing an image is quite similar to copying an printed image by overlaying it with a piece of transparent paper. The artist can then draw onto the transparent piece of paper and trace the shapes from the original. Vector tracing is based on the same principle but in a digital form. While the trace on the transparent paper is of equal size to the original, the digital version can be manipulated and reproduced as often and in any size as you wish!
 A good tutorial on how to trace is the '''Frostillicuss vector tutorial''' which can be found [http://www.localarcade.com/4images/details.php?image_id=223 here]. Another tutorial can be found [http://frank05.critter.net/vector.html here].

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Vector tracing''' is a way to convert raster files into vector images. See "[[Raster versus Vector artwork]]" why many people prefer vector images for their arcade art. Tracing can be very time consuming and labour intensive but at the same time it can produce stunning results.
-==The art of tracing==
+=The art of tracing=
 ''-need to add content-''
 A good tutorial on how to trace is the '''Frostillicuss vector tutorial''' which can be found [http://www.localarcade.com/4images/details.php?image_id=223 here]. Another tutorial can be found [http://frank05.critter.net/vector.html here].
-==Auto trace tools==
+=Auto trace tools=
 "Labour intensive? Time consuming? Why can't a computer do this!", I hear you ask. Well, it's a very good question. First, there ''are'' tools that can trace images for you. These tools produce various results, ranging from crap to slightly usable. The main reason is this: context. Humans can make out what a shape is supposed to be even if it is abstract or fuzzy. A few white, blue and black blotches can look like an eye for humans because the context (a face) is there. A computer will still interpret those blotches, well, as blotches. The vectors it produces will be more or less accurate renditions of blotches and will remain so as the vectors are enlarged. A human artist can make these blotches into a vectorised image of an eye.