TraceIT
TraceIT is a program for raster to vector conversion. Based
on original algorithms TraceIT provides the
maximum speed for bitmap tracing. TraceIT can operate with
a wide range of raster formats including
almost every bitmap type such as: BMP, GIF, TIF, JPG, PSD etc. In addition to standard bitmap images, TraceIT
can also trace video files in AVI, MOV or MPEG formats. TraceIT can extract
some exact frames from video file, trace a range of frames or a
whole file.
TraceIT includes a complete image processor that can be used at all phases
of image transformations -- from image capture
using a TWAIN
compatible scanner, to actual laser projection.
TraceIT includes a raster
editor that can be used to clean the image before tracing.
The raster editor includes all necessary tools like
Pen, EyeDropper or Fill. Zoom Window also can help to edit the
image. There is even a vector editor that allows
you to edit the resulting traced image.
Once a bitmap has been traced, you can save
the result in Pangolin-compatible laser formats, including those
that work with LD2000, QuickShow and BEYOND.
TraceIT includes four noise filters that were created
specially for cleaning
up images in preparation for tracing. Usually,
once an image has been scanned, there is some noise that make the images difficult to trace. We have developed filters called as "pixel gates" and
these
filters solve the problem of noise.
First filter is Gate 1. This filter removes
single pixels (see picture) and provides very soft effect. This
filter does not remove all noise,
but it makes very careful changes in the
source image.
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Source image |
Filtered image |
Second filter is Gate 2. This filter removes
twin pixels (see picture) and provides more deep changes. This
filter also does not remove all noise and makes very careful changes in
the source image. Both filters can be used for removing "Dither"
from images like GIF. Interesting that this filter can be applied two or more times and it will clear the image more and more.
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Source Image |
Filtered Image #1 |
Filtered Image #2 |
Third filter is Gate 3. This
is the most effective filter
but sometimes it can cause a change in the form of main shapes on the
source image. Below you
can see an example using of this filter can remove
a lot of noise during 2 passes.
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Source Image |
Filtered Image #1 |
Filtered Image #2 |
T Gate. It's very fun to see how the noise
disappear after clicking one button.... T-Gate really allows you to
remove the noise and the additional effect - T-Filter make the
shapes more rounded. This is particularly good for centerline tracing.
There is no limit to the number of times you can
use the T-Gate. Every time the image
will start to become smoother and
smoother.
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Source Image |
Filtered Image #1 |
Example 1: Colored noise.
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Source image |
Step
#1(Gate-3) |
Step
#2 (Gate-3) |
Step
#3 (Gate-3) |
Step
#4 (T-Gate) |
Example 2: More complex image and more noise:
One moment and noise removed
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Source image |
Step
#1 (T-Gate) |
Step
#2 (Gate-3) |
One of most important changes is integration with Pangolin
Lasershow Designer 2000. Now TraceIT can write frames to QM2000 and
save files in the native Pangolin LDS file format. We have implemented special group of
commands for making your job comfortable related to LD2000.
- TraceIT can check currently active frame and use this one for
frame writing. This is useful if you work in Lasershow Designer
and TraceIT at the same time.
- TraceIT can automatically restore setting of QM2000 and
perform some actions like stop autorotation etc.
- TraceIT can automatically write frames to QM2000 or work in
standalone mode.
- TraceIT have its own "Projector settings" window. This allow
to save the time...
- TraceIT can generate vector and point oriented frames.
TraceIT support more than 40 files formats of raster images and
video files. As source image can be used follow formats:
Video file formats:
Raster file formats:
- bmp - Windows bitmap,
- jpg - JPG Image,
- emf - Enhanced Metafiles,
- wmf - Metafiles,
- tga - Truevision images
- win - Truevision images
- vst - Truevision images
- vda - Truevision images
- psd - Photoshop images
- pcx - ZSoft PCX images
- pdd - Photoshop images
- gif - CompuServe images
- pic - 'Autodesk images
- scr - Word 5.x screen capture images
- rle - Windows bitmap
- sgi - SGI true color images
- bw - SGI black/white images
- rpf - SGI Wavefront images
- rla - SGI Wavefront images
- rgba - SGI true color images
- rgb - SGI true color images
- ppm - Portable pixel map images
- pgm - Portable grayscale images
- pbm - 'Portable b&w images
- pcc - ZSoft PCC images
- icb - Truevision images
- dib - 'Windows bitmap
- cut - Dr. Halo images
- cel - Autodesk images
- pcd - Kodak Photo-CD images
TraceIT allow to export frames in following formats:
- ILD - ILDA standard frames
- LDA - Pangolin LDA file.
- LPC - LAStudio Picture
- LP - Oracle single frame
- PLT - HPGL
- LDS - Pangolin LDS file (require QM2000)
Export to FFF, LFT, BMP, JPG, EMF supported via plugins
interface.
Import plugins.
TraceIT allow to change DLL, which provide access to raster files
and this feature may be used for changing the set of supported
formats .
Export plugins.
TraceIT implements the flexible engine of plugins, which allow to
export resulted frames in other formats. The format of plugins is
opened for public domain.
TraceIT include three types of tracing - Outline, Centerline and
Raster. Every type of tracing has its corresponded separation mode:
Outline:
- Mono - separation is based on 3 levels (+auto
transformation to grayscale). This style allows having from 2 up
to 4 colors in separated bitmap.
- Separated - separation is based on 3
independent levels for R,G and B colors channels. Number of colors
up to 64
- Auto-defined colors - separation based on
algorithm that allow automatically define main colors in source
image. Number of colors from 2 up to 64
- User-defined colors - tracer will
automatically reduce source image by user defined colors. Number
of colors from 2 up to 64.
- Delta - allow extracting areas with high
contrast. There are 2 modifications of this style, Delta and
Delta-Outline.
Centerline:
- B&W-Centerline - source image will be
converted to Black&White by defined threshold.
- Delta-Centerline - in this style from source
image will be extracted more contrast areas which will be used for
centerline tracing.
NEW: Now centerline algorithm allow to define "Pen width".
Raster:
Raster style allow to have TV like (raster) frames. There is
ability to get unidirectional or bi-directional raster.
- Original colors - in this mode the colors of
points in resulted frame is the same such as colors of pixels in
source image. No changes! What you have is what you get!
- Indexed colors - in this style all 24 bit RGB
colors reduces to 64 colors. The value of colors is based on
levels of separation. Indexed colors model is good corresponded to
ILDA files structure. Its allow to generate special palette for
each frame and minimize the color distortion. Saving with ILDA,
Pangolin palettes are possible also.
- Grayscale - all colors are converted to
grayscale.
- Fixed - All points will have the same, used
defined, color.
There is very important thing - separation is used only for
making source-image more useable for tracing. In most cases points
colors not depend on separation type, because it will be extracted
from original (not separated) image.
Batch tracer allow to trace selected files by few simple steps
1) Select files.
2) Select output folder and output file type.
3) Press "Start" and relax while TraceIT will make frames for you.
New feature is storing frames directly to memory of Pangolin
QM2000.
Video tracer allow to trace group of frames from video file.
There is few simple steps:
1) Select source file and output file.
2) Start and Finish frames from file.
3) Press "Start" and relax while TraceIT will make frames for you.
TWAIN:
TraceIT allow to receive the images directly from TWAIN
compatible devise.
Raster filters:
Image attributes (Red, Blue, Green,Lightness, saturation,
Contrast)
Rotate (90CW, 90CCW, 180), Crop, Resize, Flip, Flop, Inverse colors,
Grayscale.
Context menu.
Special command - "Trace..." is added for all supported raster
file types. This allow browse you hard disk and trace any image in just one click!
Clipboard.
Clipboard operations are supported for both types of images - for
raster images and for resulted vector frames. Raster images may be
copied from any other program. Vector images may be used inside any
of LAStudio programs. In case if clipboard contain bitmap then
TraceIT will show icon on taskbar.
New: TraceIT allow to register 2
hotkeys, which can be used from any program (not depend on focus).
This hotkeys will call "Paste" or "Paste new" of TraceIT. This can
be very useful in case if you work in some raster editor, copy image
to clipboard and call TraceIT without going to TraceIT window.
Presets
Any setting of tracing can be saved in presets list. That allows
applying the same tracing later to any other image.
Hotkeys
Editing of main menu allow to retune the hotkeys set as more
preferred for the user.
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