Auto-Tracing Images
Auto-Tracing Images
You can use the Auto Trace command to create vector objects from an image. The Auto Trace command traces an entire image or any channel of an image and is available when a paint object is selected. Auto-tracing is much faster than tracing an image by hand with the Polygon or Curve tool, although you might need to edit the resulting vector paths. When Canvas X Draw performs an auto-trace, the original image is not changed. When the tracing is complete, you can move the vector objects away from the image.
Canvas X Draw auto-traces high-resolution images better than low-resolution images. Auto-tracing an image with a resolution lower than 300 ppi can produce jagged paths.
Canvas X Draw traces an image with curves or straight path segments. Auto-tracing usually produces several paths that follow various sections of the image. After tracing, group and edit the resulting paths.
| Selection handles (highlighted) surround the objects produced by auto-tracing the sailboat image |
| Original scan at 600 ppi resolution |
| Paths created with the Auto Trace command |
To Auto-Trace an Image:
- Select a paint object to trace and choose Image | Auto Trace.
- In the Auto Trace dialog box, choose either all channels or a specific color channel to trace from the Channel menu. The options also depend on the type of image.
- Select other settings to use for tracing.
- Then click OK to trace the selected paint object.
Auto Trace Settings
Input | The Input section contains information about the image being traced. Use Image: Traces the selected image. Your image should be black & white, grayscale, or RGB. Use Mask Channel: Traces your visibility mask or transparency mask, depending on the image. Select Visibility Mask or Transparency Mask from the drop-down menu. Blur Radius: Use the slider to apply a blur radius to the input image. Blurring removes noise. Black/White Threshold: This slider is only enabled when the input image is grayscale or color and the output result is black & white. The threshold, in this case, modifies the intermediate black & white image used to create the vector (traced) objects. Image Resolution: This slider adjusts the resolution of the input image. The input image can be traced at its original resolution or at an adjusted one. The Intermediate Preview indicates the image used for tracing after applying the blur or threshold changes, if applicable. | |
Output | Mode | Select either Black & White, Grayscale, or Color for the output tracing. |
Trace | Select either Fill, Stroke, or Fill+Stroke. The Fill option creates filled outlines. The Stroke option is only available when the mode is set to Black & White. Stroke means that centerlines with an approximate width are created rather than outlines. With the Fill+Stroke option, a mixture of filled vector objects and strokes is made. Strokes are created depending on the values for Max Stroke Width and Min Stroke Length. | |
Gray Levels: This slider is only enabled when the output is gray or color. When the output is gray, the level value defines the number of gray levels in the intermediate preview and in resulting vector object. When the output is color, the slider controls how well the details in the image are distinguished. A high value provides better distinction. | ||
Ignore area less than: This option works as a despeckle filter. If isolated pixels or groups of pixels exist in the input image, they will be ignored, instead of creating vector objects from them. | ||
Optimize curves: This option reduces the number of points in the curve, without drastically affecting the shape. Optimize is disabled if Make polygons is enabled. | ||
Make polygons: Select this option to create polygons rather than Bézier curves. | ||
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