TraceIT
TraceIT is
a
program for raster to vector conversion into laser file
formats.
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 laser formats
like ILDA, or even windows formats like WMF and BMP.
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 a 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 deeper 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. This filter can be applied
two or more times and it will clear the image
progressively .
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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.
After clicking one button.... the noise disappears
T-Gate allows you to remove the
noise and the additional effect - T-Filter makes 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 more 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: Click and noise is removed
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Source image |
Step #1 (T-Gate) |
Step #2 (Gate-3) |
New
features in version
1.50
- New optimized tracing
algorithms and much more simple parameters adjustment.
- Output to
Pangolin QM2000 board.
- Files saving in native
Pangolin's (LDS, ILD) and Oracle (LP) formats .
- Double reducing and image
transparency include fuzziness
- Output frame color
correction system.
- New GUI for frames
preview include zooming.
- Independent tracing
settings for all loaded images.
- Enhanced preset
subsystem.
- Frames smoothing for
decreasing "pixel" effect.
- Multi loading of video
frames.
- New subsystem of raster
image import and support of more than 30 raster formats.
- New raster filters.
- Undo.
- Complete help system.
Bonus:
Now TraceIT come with Picture Viewer program. You can browse
for images and send commands for tracing to TraceIT.
One of most important
changes is integration with Pangolin Lasershow Designer 2000.
Now TraceIT can write frames to QM2000 and save files in LDS
and ILD formats. We have implemented a special group
of commands for making your job comfortable whilst working with
LD2000.
- TraceIT can check the
current 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 the setting of QM2000 and perform some actions like stop
autorotation etc.
- TraceIT can automatically
write frames to QM2000 or work in standalone mode.
- TraceIT has its own
"Projector settings" window. This allows you to save the time...
- TraceIT
can
generate vector and point oriented frames.
TraceIT supports more
than 40 file formats of raster images and video files. A source
image can be in the following 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 allows to change DLL, which provides 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 the user 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 allows tracing
of groups of frames from a video file. There are a few
simple steps:
1) Select source file and
output file.
2) Start and Finish frames from file.
3) Press "Start" and relax while TraceIT makes the
frames for you.
TWAIN:
TraceIT can receive
images directly from a TWAIN compatible device.
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 allows you to
browse your 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 the presets list. This allows applying the same
tracing parameters later to any other image.
Hotkeys
Editing of main menu allows
the user to retune the hotkeys set as a preference.
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Copyright © 2002,
Pangolin Laser Systems |
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