Provided by: autotrace_0.31.1-16+nmu1.2ubuntu0.1_amd64 
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 <input_name>.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), ImageMagick(1), pbm(1), pgm(1), pnm(1), ps2pdf(1), pstoedit(1), pstoepd(1), sketch(1), xfig(1),
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).
10 October 2002 AUTOTRACE(1)