--- name: "autotrace" section: "1" platform: "linux" package: "autotrace" version: "0.31.1-16+b1" release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/autotrace" --- # autotrace(1) converts bitmap image data into vector graphics ## NAME autotrace - converts bitmap image data into vector graphics ## SYNOPSIS **autotrace** \[**-background-color** *hexvalue*\] \[**-centerline**\] \[**-color-count** *int*\] \[**-corner-always-threshold** *angle*\] \[**-corner-surround** *int*\] \[**-corner-threshold** *angle*\] \[**-despeckle-level** *int*\] \[**-despeckle-tightness** *real*\] \[**-dpi** *int*\] \[**-error-threshold** *real*\] \[**-filter-iterations** *int*\] \[**-help**\] \[**-input-format** *format*\] \[**-line-reversion-threshold** *real*\] \[**-line-threshold** *real*\] \[**-list-input-formats**\] \[**-list-output-formats**\] \[**-log**\] \[**-output-file** *file*\] \[**-output-format** *format*\] \[**-preserve-width**\] \[**-remove-adjacent-corners**\] \[**-report-progress**\] \[**-debug-arch**\] \[**-debug-bitmap**\] \[**-tangent-surround** *int*\] \[**-version**\] \[**-width-factor** *real*\] *inputfile* ## DESCRIPTION The *autotrace* program accepts bitmap graphics from the file *inputfile* specified on the command line, and as output produces a collection of splines approximating the original image, the converting the image from bitmap to vector format. It behaves in a manner similar to the commercial software known as \*tream\*ine or \*orel\*race. The result is sent to standard output unless the **-output-file** option is active. ## OPTIONS Options can begin with either **--** or **-**. Any unambiguous abbreviation can be used for the option name. Option names and values can be separated with either a space or equal sign (=). - **-background-color** *hexvalue* Employ the color specified by the hexadecimal code *hexcode* as the background that should be ignored, for example FFFFFF (default: no background color). - **-centerline** Trace an object's centerline (default: employ its outline). - **-color-count** *int* Reduce the bitmap to using the number of colors specified by the unsigned integer *int* (range: 1-256). The default value of 0 indicates that no color reduction is to be done. Does not work with grayscale images. - **-corner-always-threshold** *angle* Consider any angle at a pixel which falls below the specified *angle* (in degrees) as a corner, even if it is bordered by other corner pixels (default: 60). - **-corner-surround** *int* Consider the specified number of pixels on either side of a point when determining if that point is a corner (default: 4). - **-corner-threshold** *angle* Consider any pixel which forms an angle with its predecessor(s) and successor(s) that is smaller than the specified *angle* (in degrees) as a corner (default: 100). - **-despeckle-level** *int* Employ the specified integer (range: 1-20) as the value for despeckling (default: no despeckling). - **-despeckle-tightness** *real* Employ the specified real number (range: 0.0-8.0) as the value for despeckle tightness (default: 2.0). - **-dpi** *int* The dots per inch value in the input image, affects scaling of mif output image. - **-error-threshold** *real* Subdivide fitted curves that are offset by a number of pixels exceeding the specified real number (default: 2.0). - **-filter-iterations** *int* Smooth the curve the specified number of times prior to fitting (default: 4). - **-help** Print a help message and exit. - **-input-format** *format* Employ the specified input format, where *format* is one of: - **BMP** (Windows bitmap format) - **PBM** (Portable BitMap format) - **PGM** (Portable Graymap format) - **PNM** (Portable Anymap format) - **PPM** (Portable Pixmap format) - **TGA** (Targa format) - The supported input formats are determined when the application is built and depend upon the availability of other software (the **-list-input-formats** command can be used to determine which are supported locally). - **-line-reversion-threshold** *real* When a spline is closer to a straight line than the specified real number weighted by the square of the curve length (default: .01), maintain it as a straight line, even if it is a list with curves. - **-line-threshold** *real* If a spline does not deviate from the straight line defined by its endpoints by more than the specified number of pixels, then treat it as a straight line (default: 1). - **-list-input-formats** Send a list of the supported input formats to stderr. - **-list-output-formats** Send a list of the supported output formats to stderr. - **-log** Send a detailed progress report to the file *inputfile*.log. - **-output-file** *file* Send the output to the specified file. - **-output-format** *format* Employ the specified output format, where *format* is one of: - **ai**(Adobe Illustrator) - **cgm**(Computer Graphics Metafile) - **dr2d**(IFF DR2D format, used almost exclusively on Amiga platforms) - **dxf**(AutoCAD Drawing Exchange format) - **emf**(Windows Enhanced Metafile format) - **epd**(Encapsulated Vectorial Graphics format) - **eps**(Encapsulated PostScript) - **er**(Elastic Reality Shape format) - **fig**(*xfig* (1) 3.2) - **mif**(FrameMaker MIF format) - **pdf**(Portable Data Format) - **p2e**(*pstoedit* (1) frontend) - **sk**(Sketch) - **svg**(Scalable Vector Graphics) - **swf**(Shockwave Flash 3) - The supported output formats are determined when the application is built and depend upon the availability of other software (the **-list-output-formats** command can be used to determine which are supported locally). - **-preserve-width** Whether to preserve line width prior to thinning. - **-remove-adjacent-corners** Remove adjacent corners. - **-report-progress** Report tracing status in real time. - **-debug-arch** Print the type of cpu. - **-debug-bitmap** Dump loaded bitmap to \.bitmap. - **-tangent-surround** *int* Consider the specified number of points to either side of a point when computing the tangent at that point (default: 3). - **-version** Print the version number of the program and exit. - **-width-factor** *real* Weight factor for fitting the linewidth. ## FILES - /usr/bin/autotrace binary ## SEE ALSO [gimp(1)](/gimp/1.md), [ImageMagick(1)](/ImageMagick/1.md), pbm(1), pgm(1), pnm(1), [ps2pdf(1)](/ps2pdf/1.md), [pstoedit(1)](/pstoedit/1.md), pstoepd(1), [sketch(1)](/sketch/1.md), [xfig(1)](/xfig/1.md), xv(1) ## AUTHORS Martin Weber (martweb@gmx.net) Manual page by R. P. C. Rodgers, Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications, U.S. National Library of Medicine (rodgers@nlm.nih.gov).