CompuServe Thread

#Autotrace Program

12 messages in this thread
#12536From: Mel GreerOct 22, 1991 10:59 AM
Does anyone know, it there exists a PD or shareware program for performing autotrace. I don't really NEED it, but it would be nice to have. <<<Mel>>>
#12547From: BRAD HAYESOct 22, 1991 8:13 PM
I am unframiler with th term AUTOTRACE. If be that you mean the ability to turn 2d (IFF) images in to 3D objects there are a few. DigiWorks 3D dose a nice job. (I also happen to be selling my copy because I have ) Imagin, has the fuction bilt in. I also think there is a program called Pixelmate (3D) or something like that. I hope this is of some help.
#12551From: Mel GreerOct 22, 1991 9:28 PM
Thanks for the information Brad. I am really looking for something in the public domain, because, it is not something I need, just something I'd like to play around with. By AutoTrace, I mean where a 2D iff can be trace (automatically :-)), so you end up with a tracing of the image. Has neat looking effects. The reason I was looking is because I bought a book that I really like (the only graphics book I found that mentions the Amiga as a graphics computer, along with Mac & IBM). It features some Amiga artists as well. Though, the author is oriented toward macs, he does not totally ignore the Amiga. There's even a small section (two pages) entitled "A REMARKABLE HYBRID COLOR COMPUTER Computer graphics isn't all Macintoshes and IBMs," devoted to Amiga. Anyway, all of this to say that in the book, the author gives some examples which involve using autotracing in various Mac programs. I am not willing to buy an entire program for one feature, I was just hoping such a feature might be found in the PD. Oh!… the title of the book is: Getting Started in Computer Graphics by Gary Olsen published by North Light Books I found it at Walden Books. <<< Mel >>>
#12570From: John PendergrassOct 23, 1991 7:35 PM
Mel, I see several folk have replied about '3D autotrace' programs, such as Pixel3D and such…. these take a bitmap (company logo, for instance) and convert it into something that can be used in 3D rendering programs (ie. raytracing and such). However, I don't think that's what you had in mind, was it? You mentioned the Mac, so I'd suspect that you meant converting a bitmap image (again, a company logo) and converting it to a 'structured drawing' for use in design programs. ie. for printing and such. Is this what you meant? If so, I'm not aware of any PD or shareware programs that do this, but there are several commercial programs…. Professional Draw 2.0 by Gold Disk, for instance. This will take a logo and convert it into lines and such that you can resize, color, etc…. it's mainly a graphic design tool. (and DTP tool) Last, you can also change bitmaps (again, company logos, etc) into just edges, by doing 'edge detection' in some paint programs. ADPro by ASDG will do it; so will Image Professional by Black Belt (with tons of options). If you're after artistic 'effects' then I'll vouch for these spectacular effects at times! Hope this helps. –jp–seattle–
#12631From: Mel GreerOct 26, 1991 6:36 AM
> I'd suspect that you meant converting a bitmap image (again, a > company logo) and converting it to a 'structured drawing' for use in > design programs. ie. for printing and such. Is this what you meant? Yeah John, that was what I was trying to convey. I guess I was not clear enough. > you can also change bitmaps (again, company logos, etc) into just > edges, by doing 'edge detection' in some paint programs. None of the ones I have will do this, but perhaps if I put my mind to it, I can experiment with masking. I will also investigate ProDraw. I thought you had to have Ham-E in order to get Image Professional. Can that be ordered seperately? Thanks for all the info John. Now I can wonder off in the right direction ;-). <<< Mel >>>
#12638From: Black Belt SystemsOct 26, 1991 10:02 AM
You can't order Image Professional separately, but we now have a product called Imagemaster that is essentially Image Professional for the standard Amiga graphics capabilities. It doesn't require any extra hardware, just a good bit of memory to run. Ben
#12656From: Mel GreerOct 26, 1991 10:44 PM
> It doesn't require any extra hardware, just a good bit of memory to run. Sounds good…How much memory (I am running with 3 megs)? Uh…also, how much ;). <<< Mel >>>
#12666From: Black Belt SystemsOct 27, 1991 10:31 AM
3 megs is a minimum system, you can run with it, but it will be tight. It's $199.95 retail (or direct from us), and I expect the street price to be significantly lower. Shipments have long since left for the distributors so you should see the product at solid dealers shortly. We shipped 100 copies on Oct 1st, then nothing for a couple of weeks… the major bulk of the manuals were shipped to us by "slowboat", which delayed the main shipments. That's all over now, though, so availability will be good. Ben
#12639From: John PendergrassOct 26, 1991 12:13 PM
I see that Black Belt already responded re their ImageMaster program. Works real well 🙂 Other that will do edge detection are: 1) ADPro (also in 24bits), 2) PixMate, 3) Butcher. PixMate and Butcher will work only with regular amiga format images. I'll sell you one if you want? Make me an offer 🙂 (fine progs, just superseded by ADPro/IP/etc) –jp–seattle–
#12657From: Mel GreerOct 26, 1991 10:44 PM
> PixMate and Butcher will work only with regular amiga format > images. I'll sell you one if you want? Make me an offer 🙂 ha..ha…I am saving you message… I just may take you up on it (you seem to be able to spot a person obsessed) :-)). <<< Mel >>>
#12578From: BRAD HAYESOct 24, 1991 12:38 AM
The autotrace has been very helpful. If you do try it out try this. convert an image to an object (you may have to make a 2 color version of the image). then without rescaling the object, aply the origenal image as a map. then you can do really cool flips and moves with reflections and shadows…. Brad Hayes
#12569From: Steven KosterOct 23, 1991 4:23 PM
Pixel3D will take a 2D image and automatically "trace" it, converting it into a 3D object of points and lines, suitable for use in Lightwave, TurboSilver, Imageine, etc. <-SJK->