effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

[Sleksa]

Hello, I need a way to copy outlines from a drawing, such as a building's outlines from a structural map. Is there any way to do this in a effective way on ms paint?

[Das Bruce]

Try some photo software that allows you to have layers?

[Forboding Angel]

If you don't wanna "acquire" PS, grab GIMP. It should be able to do this pretty easily.

[Silentwings]

And if you don't like using gimp, Paint.net can also use layers and probably has a plug-in for finding outlines.

[PicassoCT]

What exactly do you mean with outlines? Silouettes, contours?

[smoth]

And if you don't like using gimp, Paint.net

but no brush feathering >:S

[Silentwings]

Sadly not .

[knorke]

scan/photograph it, put as layer in inkscape and trace the outlines.
There is also automagic "convert bitmap to vector" function, maybe its good enough. inkscape is free and not that confusing.

[Beherith]

Filter->high pass
levels->normalize
threshold

Or use a sobel kernel.

[KaiserJ]

fireworks : marquee to paths

[zwzsg]

Lua it!

Code: Select all

local function FindOutline(map,level)
	local px,pz={},{}
	local zout
	for z=0,128 do
		if map:Get(0,level,z) then
			zout=true
		elseif zout then
			zout=z
			break
		end
	end
	local xo,yo,zo=0,level,zout
	local x,y,z=xo,yo,zo
	local dx,dz=1,0
	local it=0
	repeat
		it=it+1
		if it>9999 then
			error("Too many iterations!")
		end
		if not map:Get(x+dx,y,z+dz) then
			x,z=x+dx,z+dz
			px[1+#px],pz[1+#pz]=x,z
			if not map:Get(x+dz,y,z-dx) then
				dx,dz=dz,-dx
			end
		else
			dx,dz=-dz,dx
		end
	until x==xo and z==zo
	return px,pz
end

[rattle]

pirate photoshop, paint the outlines on a new layer and be a happy pup