Transcript Raster-to-Vector Conversion Software Packages

Raster-to-Vector Conversion
Software Packages
A Technology Assessment
Usha Eleswarapu
Mathura Priya Sundar Rajan
VPStudio v6.52/ VPRaster Pro
All of the Above is the menu choice that displays this dialog. Click OK, and VPStudio deskews, despeckles, and
aligns your image. It performs a number of other tasks that you define.
R2V for Windows 9x/NT
Starting with an 8-bit color map, Able R2V converted it to grayscale in the blink of an eye and then vectorized the
entire map in under 15 seconds.
Raster-to-Vector Conversion
Software Packages
• R2V (v.5.5) from Able Software, Massachusetts
• TracTrix (v.3.1) of Trix Systems, Massachusetts
• Draftsman2000 from Arbor Image Corporation,
Michigan
• VP Studio (v.6.52) from Softelec, Texas
• Easy Trace Pro (v.7.3) from Easy Trace Group,
Russia
Raster to Vector Conversion
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image acquisition and preprocessing
line tracing and editing
text detection and recognition
topology creation
attribute assignment
Evaluation Criteria
• supported platforms
• documentation and
help options
• technical support
• market share
• price
• applications
• major clients
• image types supported
• input and output
formats
• rubber sheeting
• vectorization
• raster & vector
editing tools
• batch processing
feature
Price
R2V
TracTrix Draftsman VP Studio EasyTrace
(Able
(Trix
2000
(Softelec) Pro
Software) Systems) (Arbor
(EasyTrace
Image)
Group)
$1,495
$900
$1,495
(images upto
11” wide)
$2,895
(images upto
100” by 100”)
$4,100
$999 (reduced
by 50% for
educational
institutions)
Market Share
R2V from Trac Trix of Draftsman
Trix
Able
2000
systems
(Arbor
Software
Image)
VP Studio Easy
(Softelec) Trace
Pro
(Easy
Trace
Group)
7 years. Good
customer base.
Over
60 countries
Started in 1980.
Product
introduced in
1994. AT&T,
BMW,Boeing.
Started in late
1980s. US
operation in 1995.
No major
clients
Early player. No
big clients
Established
in 1993.
Mainly in
Russia. No
big clients
Vectorization
R2V
TracTrix Drafts- VP
(Able
(Trix
man2000 Studio
Software) Systems) (Arbor
(Softelec)
Image)
EasyTrace
Pro (Easy
Trace
Group)
Semiautomated
& Fully
automated
Semiautomated
& Fully
Automated
Fully
Fully
Semiautomated automated automated
& Fully
automated
Raster editing tools
R2V (Able TracTrix DraftsSoftware) (Trix
man
Systems) 2000
(Arbor
Image)
VP
EasyTrace
Studio
Pro (Easy
(Softelec) Trace
Group)
color classification,
grayscale image
background
removal, image
mosaic, color
separation, flip,
transpose, rotate,
invert, deskew,
despeckle, edge
detection, fusion,
warping,
segmentation,etc.
color
manipulation,
color separation,
color pattern
elimination,
snap, despeckle,
deskew, hole fill,
crop, rotate,
mirror,
invert,etc.
Rotate, invert,
mirror, anti-alias,
fill, erase, crop,
deskew,
despeckle
despeckle,
hole fill,
scale, rotate,
box &
polygon erase,
pixel editing,
copy.
color
classification,
grayscale image
background
removal, image
mosaic, rotate,
invert, hole fill,
flip, crop,etc.
Vector editing tools
R2V (Able TracTrix
Software) (Trix
Systems)
Draftsman
2000
(Arbor
Image)
VP Studio EasyTrace
(Softelec) Pro (Easy
Trace
Group)
snap lines, smooth
lines, polygon
closing,
semiautomatic
contour line
labeling, multiple
layer creation,
attribute labeling
rotate, reflect,
move, copy,
close polygons,
join polylines,
line & point
snap, parallel
snap,perpendicular snap,
vector fill.No
attribute
assignment.
strong vector
editing functions.
additional
capabilities
snap lines,
smooth lines,
polygon closing,
multiple layer
creation, add,
delete, convert
vector entities,
rotate.
topology editor &
topology checkup;
rotate, align, crop,
snap lines, smooth
lines, polygon
closing.No text
recognition
Batch processing
R2V
TracTrix Drafts- VP Studio
(Able
(Trix
man
(Softelec)
Software) Systems) 2000
(Arbor
Image)
yes
yes
optional yes
EasyTrace
Pro (Easy
Trace
Group)
no
Conclusions
• R2V is useful for small and large organizations
that need a reasonably-priced GIS-friendly
package
• TracTrix at $900 is affordable and easy to use. It
is adequate for small organizations that are willing
to do necessary vector editing.
• Draftsman2000 is a medium-priced CAD-oriented
product. It is adequate for GIS applications. It is
suited for medium to large organizations.
Conclusions (contd.)
• VP Studio is an expensive CAD-oriented product.
Its many features may make it longer to learn. It is
useful for big organizations that have primarily
CAD and some GIS applications
• Easy Trace Pro is aggressively pursuing a US
market. This GIS-friendly product may be useful
to organizations that want a low-cost alternative
and are willing to take some risk.