Full Version: Converting planar curve(s) in a PNG into NURBS curves

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Due to overlapping curves, and related loss of some color pixels, maybe it is better to import a selected PNG to MoI image and trace in MoI???

- Brian

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Affinity Design can ALSO Trace/Draw Vectors, in Designer Persona, on or near Pixel objects of a PNG image, so more study is needed.
Then export to (true vector) SVG...and skip the 3rd party AutoTrace program.
Then import the new SVG into MoI...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-ePdWaBns
The video goes so fast, and so low volume, that it is hard to follow...

AD vector tools:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsbtJxqBi_I

- Brian

So, using Affinity Designer, I am shifting focus to reproducing 2D curves in PNG pixel image, with Vectors, using the numerous AD vector Tools.
Include scaling/alignment references. Save as AD (true vector) SVG, to be imported into MoI. This bypasses using Image command in MoI.

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Attached is the Top view of a 3D curve, which is Red. The 2D mirror half is not shown.

The Blue curves are the Trimmed, Blended (G1 and G2) and Joined profile traces of a band of blue pixels.
Some of the Blends had to be slider adjusted. Rebuild was done at .001.

The Red curve is the Loft of the two Blue curves, with center point selection of central IsoLine.
The Loft had to be in #Points mode, with about 100 points, to look good.
The Red curve is the Goal.

Loft and IsoLine was used instead of cMorph.
cMorph produced a central curve, which was very off-center. (The cMorph script might be improved by adding #Points mode ???)

Initial PNG was processed in Affinity Design, with two reference vector lines for X and Y. Saved to number2.PNG
Affinity Designer does not have autotrace of a pixel band. Manual tracing can be done with enough experience, but it is much nicer to work in MoI.

Online SVGTrace was used to vectorize blue pixel band of number2.PNG to vector SVG file.
(Inkscape Trace Bitmap command is derived from PoTrace.)

Import of SVG into MoI was huge, but Orient Line/Line was used to adjust size.

Now on to XZ and YZ views...

- Brian

I need to delete some old attachments.
Also Harddrive is too full...

Attachments:
XY_Center_BLUE_10.zip

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Hi Brian

I tested "svgtrace.com", It traces bitmap images fairly well, The problem is, it generates "outlines" of the png curves.
For your case you need "center lines" of png curves .
Inkscape's "Centerline tracing(autotrace)" option works nicely for this case.

I will explain my procedure on extracting one of the curves of your png file.
(I'm using krita to separate overlapping curves, but it can be done with other pixel apps too, Or skipped if no overlapping exists)

<Krita>
Increase color saturation with "HSV Adjustment" filter.(CTRL+U)
Use "similar color selection" tool to select curve's color (low fuzziness).
Copy-paste selection. It will generate a new layer with selected pixels.
Hide all other layers except the new one.
Export new layer as "separated_curve.png".

<Inkscape>
Import the "separated_curve.png". Open "Trace Bitmap" panel (Path ==> Trace Bitmap)
Trace Bitmap as shown. save as PDF.



<Moi>
Import pdf. cleanup. rebuild curve (#Points).

As you mentioned, manual tracing inside moi can be much accurate and maybe faster.
Here is a quick, inaccurate result.

Attachments:
PNG_Curves.zip

Image Attachments:
PNG_To_Curve.png  PNG_To_Curve_Res.png 

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Hi MO,
Thank you very much.
Yes, the outline curves seem to cause some curve, and curvature (G1,G2), inaccuracy of some sort.
I was unaware that Inkscape did centerlines, but did briefly try Inkscape outlines. I think
Inkscape failed with an unfuzzy band (?).
Will try this "Krita".

For my particular PNG's, I think that in the overlap regions, some pixels only have one color (plus that color's fuzziness, so recovering say the blue band, will result in its tapering down to zero. So maybe some blending in MoI will be needed later.

- Brian

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In case of :)

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A smart use of LineWeb!

- Brian

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- - So maybe some blending in MoI will be needed later.

Yes, that's what I did to regenerate lost parts.
I also duplicated some overlapped regions. (Blue and Green curves)

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EDIT:
There is OLD, obsolete information on the internet, regarding Centerline Autotrace, in old Inkscape versions (~.9x).
Inkscape version 1.2 and 1.3 have the tool hiding in the Trace Bitmap selection.
See 2nd post following.

So this post is altered, to remove false information

- Brian

I did HSV adjust in Affinity Designer, Pixel Persona...

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I didn't install any additional plugins on my inkscape.
Maybe a fresh install or a newer version helps.
Inkscape 1.1.2 (b8e25be833, 2022-02-05)

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FINALLY,
In Inkjet version 1.3, (and presumably 1.2) Centerline Trace menu choice is HIDING in the
Trace Bitmap > Single Scan > Detection Mode (dropdown list).
(I upgraded to Inkscape 1.3, and did NOT install any add-ins or extensions.)

- Brian
Did a very quick successful test.
Imported to MoI. There are some gaps, and little squiggles, in the single centerline curves, but MoI can correct these.

It is first necessary to click on Layers, and select the PNG layer.
Also, in the Trace Bitmap screen, it may help to use "Adjust Threshold". Or not? It is not in the Centerline menu, just the Brightness cutoff menu.

Centerline trace of multiple overlapping curves tends to introduce "crossing over" squiggles. (Like DNA:-)
So the source PNG should be simplified to one pixel curve, or 2+ NON-overlapping curves.

The centerline trace curves are Vectors, (SVG), so there is almost no fuzziness at small zooms, unlike the PNG images.

Multiple color curves come out as single color Vector(s).

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