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    Best method for tracing a jpg image

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Woodworking
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    • cottyC Offline
      cotty
      last edited by

      @mics_54 said:

      each having to be exploded and tweeked separately?

      I only exploded them for showing the endpoints, they can be manipulated with one click with the plugin.

      my SketchUp gallery

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      • Dave RD Offline
        Dave R
        last edited by

        Here's an example of the straightening thing. If you wanted to trace this illustration, you'd want to straighten it slightly. It is scanned from an old book and the book wasn't aligned exactly right on the platen.
        Capture.PNG

        Etaoin Shrdlu

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        • M Offline
          mics_54
          last edited by

          got it thanks!

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          • TIGT Offline
            TIG Moderator
            last edited by

            If the image file can be converted into a 'flattened' PNG file [using Gimp, Photoshop etc] and then a transparent alpha channel layer re-added and the unwanted background pixels deleted... then you can import it into your SKP model as an Image and then use ImageTrimmer [part of my SKMtools (note you need Java enabling and JAR files set to execute in Java and NOT to be opened in decompression-apps)].
            This will process it automatically, drawing the outline along the transparent edge pixels and only adding faces to the 100% opaque areas [using the image as a material] and finally smoothing the jaggedy edges into smoother curves.
            The resultant component's edges are auto-hidden, but they can easily be turned back on if you want to edit them further...
            So the resultant 'cutout' might do what you want?
            ImageTrimmer can work acceptably for suitable PNGs of people, trees, shrubs, etc...

            TIG

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            • M Offline
              mics_54
              last edited by

              uh..okay
              suddenly I feel like "penny" talking to "Sheldon" πŸ˜„

              ...actually I wondered if there was a way to automate the trace with some raster/vector software.

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              • Dave RD Offline
                Dave R
                last edited by

                The vectorizing programs I've tried all made very ragged vectors which translated into huge segment counts in SketchUp. If the image is suitable or made suitable for it, TIG's plugin would be great. For most of the tracing I need to do, it would take as long to make the image suitable as to just trace it and get it over with.

                Etaoin Shrdlu

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                • pbacotP Offline
                  pbacot
                  last edited by

                  @mics_54 said:

                  uh..okay
                  suddenly I feel like "penny" talking to "Sheldon" πŸ˜„

                  ...actually I wondered if there was a way to automate the trace with some raster/vector software.

                  That is what TIG is offering in his plugin. However the first step is make the background transparent in an image editor if it is not already so, so that the software "knows" where to make the trace.

                  There are automatic vector-izing programs but probably not what you want for a cut-out. Varying success from what I see.

                  Looking at "Intarsia" it looks like these are linework patterns, not cut-out texture images, so I sense TIG's tool is not what you want. Probably drawing by mouse (or tablet) is going to be faster and cleaner.

                  MacOSX MojaveSketchUp Pro v19 Twilight v2 Thea v3 PowerCADD

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                  • pilouP Offline
                    pilou
                    last edited by

                    Auto Tracer on line
                    and else a very cool one where there is a vectorizer inside ! 😎
                    Expression 3( old creatures house) free ! Multilanguage
                    Permit to make crazzy illustrations!
                    Astonished as vectorial image! 😲
                    By Graphinc

                    http://forums.polyloop.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1879&d=1083069896

                    Inkscape has also one inside! Multilanguage

                    Frenchy Pilou
                    Is beautiful that please without concept!
                    My Little site :)

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                    • Dave RD Offline
                      Dave R
                      last edited by

                      Pilou, would you show us the vector lines you get from that image? Put them into SketchUp.

                      Etaoin Shrdlu

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                      • pilouP Offline
                        pilou
                        last edited by

                        Regulates inside expression 3

                        refulates.jpg

                        so more points! πŸ˜‰
                        So first play with colors on the original!

                        24 colors in the following skp file! πŸ˜„


                        refulates1.jpg


                        redfish1.zip

                        Frenchy Pilou
                        Is beautiful that please without concept!
                        My Little site :)

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                        • pilouP Offline
                          pilou
                          last edited by

                          I make a snaphot from the su forum!
                          With default parameters and without regulate anywhere in any progs that give that! (skp final file linked)
                          Inside Expression 3 (i have not the original expression file by graphinc! so snapshot above so JPG compression don't help! --> mutiply colors! )
                          You can of course modulate the start colors for have a more precise result!
                          (here only 4 colors! Suffisant if you want just the outlines! you can take till 40 color)

                          redfish1.jpg

                          You will have choice to export in different format Illustrator Ai ...
                          exportai.jpg

                          ...and EPS, PDF and FLASH

                          I had taken AI 7.0 then import inside Moi then export directly in format SKP πŸ˜‰
                          Inside Moi (who can accept also EPS, PDF )
                          redfishmoi.jpg

                          Moi export default parameters
                          redfishmoi1.jpg

                          Inside SKP : for a direct work without any regulates it's not so bad! πŸ˜‰
                          Funny the original black circle eyes has disapeared maybe black is the transparent color somewhere!
                          Expression 3 is a crazzy free prog! 😎
                          redfishsu.jpg

                          redfish.skp

                          Frenchy Pilou
                          Is beautiful that please without concept!
                          My Little site :)

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                          • M Offline
                            mics_54
                            last edited by

                            That is interesting on many levels and I bet it would be suitable for many artistic inflections.
                            Just to satisfy your curiosity etc

                            Pete's fish sign.jpg

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                            • M Offline
                              mics_54
                              last edited by

                              Pilou
                              that's a very nice trace! I will chek it out

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                              • pilouP Offline
                                pilou
                                last edited by

                                You have also Expression Designer 4 who is a smart version of expression 3 always free! πŸ˜‰

                                Else for your design drawing Moi has this on the next beta in PDF format! πŸ˜‰

                                Reamark the "large lines" not only on empty space but also Objects over objects!
                                For a more easy readable πŸ˜„

                                http://moi3d.com/forum/get_attachment.php?webtag=MOI&hash=9eb27b40171633cb3b4ab168f197f715&filename=3x silhouettes.png

                                Frenchy Pilou
                                Is beautiful that please without concept!
                                My Little site :)

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                                • M Offline
                                  MARKTERREAU
                                  last edited by

                                  Where can a guy find the aforementioned BZ_Spline tools?
                                  Thanks

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                                  • Dave RD Offline
                                    Dave R
                                    last edited by

                                    @markterreau said:

                                    Where can a guy find the aforementioned BZ_Spline tools?

                                    In the Extension Store: https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=BezierSpline

                                    Best would be to install the Sketchucation Extension Store tool under Resources at the top of this page. Then use it to install extensions hosted here.

                                    There's also FredoSpline which has more options than the older Bezier Spline.

                                    Etaoin Shrdlu

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