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effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 08:21
by 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?

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 09:51
by Das Bruce
Try some photo software that allows you to have layers?

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 10:21
by Forboding Angel
If you don't wanna "acquire" PS, grab GIMP. It should be able to do this pretty easily.

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 12:22
by Silentwings
And if you don't like using gimp, Paint.net can also use layers and probably has a plug-in for finding outlines.

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 14:35
by PicassoCT
What exactly do you mean with outlines? Silouettes, contours?

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 15:33
by smoth
Silentwings wrote:And if you don't like using gimp, Paint.net
but no brush feathering >:S

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 15:38
by Silentwings
Sadly not :(.

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 15:56
by 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.

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 17:21
by Beherith
Filter->high pass
levels->normalize
threshold

Or use a sobel kernel.

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 19:52
by KaiserJ
fireworks : marquee to paths

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 14 Nov 2012, 19:55
by 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

Re: effective way to copy outlines from a drawing

Posted: 25 Nov 2012, 18:44
by rattle
pirate photoshop, paint the outlines on a new layer and be a happy pup