Vextractor is a professional
software for converting raster images to vector (vectorizer). Vextractor
converts drawings, maps and other images, including photo, logos,
black-and-white illustrations from raster to vector format. The program can save
converted raster images to the following vector formats: DXF, WMF, EMF, EPS, AI
or SVG. Files of these vector formats can be imported to popular vector graphics
applications like AutoCAD, Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator, and many others. For
the purpose of supporting GIS applications, the program allows saving images to
the ArcInfo Shape and MapInfo MID/MIF formats. This software is a perfect
replacement for the traditional tracing and digitizing. It can save lots of your
time, for it is much quicker to use this program rather than do the tracing by
hand or using a digitizer.
Why Do You Need Vextractor?
Chances are these days you can open raster files (e.g., BMP,
TIFF, PNG, JPG) with your favorite CAD program - the majority of modern CAD
programs can import and display raster images. However, as soon as you import
your raster file in your CAD program, you will find out that all you can do with
it is just view it and trace it over. You are unable to modify or edit the
raster as easily as you can do vector data. That takes place because CAD
software can only work with vector files. If you want to edit raster files in a
CAD application you are to convert them to vector files first. That can be done
with a raster to vector conversion program (vectorizer). Once your raster image
is converted to the vector format, you will be able to import it in your CAD
application and then edit it like any other drawings that you do with your CAD
application.
The list below summarizes the conversion of hard-copy drawings
to CAD drawings, using the raster to vector converter:
1. Create a raster file by scanning a hard-copy drawing with a
scanner.
2. Use Vextractor to convert the raster file to the vector
format.
3. Import the vector file to your CAD application.
4. Edit the drawing in your CAD application.
Vextractor can replace the traditional tracing and digitizing
applications. It offers a simple and easy way to convert paper-based drawings to
CAD drawings for further editing and use. Vextractor will save many hours of
your time and free you from the boring and monotonous work.
Vextractor Usage Examples:
1. Suppose you have an archive of a great number of raster
drawings, pictures or logos, which you can only view and print. The possibility
to convert that data to the vector format would be very helpful for your work.
3. If you have a hardcopy or raster image (photo), and you
want to engrave a 3D inscription, logo or image on the metal, wood or plastic.
Now you can convert the raster file to the input format (usually, dxf) for a CNC
cutting or router system.
Converting Raster Images to the Vector Format with Vextractor
If you want to check whether Vextractor will work for you -
try it for converting your scanned images to the vector format. You can do that
even with the demo version of Vextractor. It allows reading your raster files
and converting them.
As soon as you see the conversion results, you will be able to
tell, what is faster: edit the converted image in a vector editor or draw it by
hand from a scratch. If you use Vextractor, it is normally quicker to vectorize
a raster image and then edit the result than trace and digitize the entire
drawing from the scratch. Quite often, the quality of the original hardcopy or
raster is obviously insufficient for the precise conversion to the vector
format. In such case, you can use the collection of special raster filters
implemented in Vextractor for the preparation of raster images to vectorizing.
With filters like median, despeckle, remove isolated spots or gaussian smoothing
you can sufficiently improve the quality of the original image.
Sometimes, in spite of all efforts, the quality of the
original scanned drawing makes the vectorizing and the further editing literally
impossible. The automatic vectorizing is not perfect. That is true for all
raster-to-vector conversion applications; not a single solution guarantees the
100% result. However, it does work and allows inputting a hard-copy drawing to
CAD for the further quick and easy editing. It does not promise the
irreproachable results at all times; nevertheless, it is a very useful tool for
your work.
Vextractor's Advanced Features
The program has all tools necessary for viewing images:
scaling, scrolling, and color selection. Vextractor features: TWAIN support for
importing images from any scanner; automatic recognition of orthogonal lines,
arcs, and circles; saving the original drawing's scale. Vextractor can convert
halftone and color images to black-and-white images for further recognition; it
can rotate and change the orientation of raster images.
Vextractor has a built-in vector editor, which can be used for
the editing of vectorization results. The program can create curves using Bezier
splines, which allow obtaining images smoother than the original raster. By
picking specific optimal parameters, you can obtain an image of curves, which
look greater than the original image.
The program also can be used for the digitizing of function
graphs to be used in MS Excel and other mathematical applications. The special
text format ASCII XYZ with a very simple structure is provided for importing to
such applications.
