Speed~Line Index

Speed~Line parameters

Smoothe contour

This function lets you set how closely the vectorization should follow the original contours. As a rule you can leave this parameter set to 80 %. If too many lines are created by this, however, then the value can be reduced. If the graphics are in a rough form only (showing staircasing / jaggies) then even low values can produce good results.

Curve points

This function allows you to set the precision or detail of the curve. Speed~Line is able to transform even small contour sections to Bézier curves. But sometimes it is desirable to determine from how many line-points onwards such curves should be created. If one sets this value to 2, for instance, then curves calculated from two line-points will remain as lines. The lower the number in the input field, the more Speed~Line will use curves instead of lines when auto-tracing a raster graphic.

Fix horizontal/Fix vertical

The function of these parameters can be guessed from their depiction in the Speed~Line dialog. They permit cleaning up horizontal and vertical lines by an adjustable amount. The values represent the line width, in pixels on the screen at the current magnification, that will be created when auto-tracing raster graphics.

Smoothe lines

As you can see from its depiction, this function removes superfluous line portions and so smoothes the line. The value represents the maximum distance of a line-point, in screen pixels, that should be smoothed, i.e. deviations smaller than this will be ignored and a straight line drawn.

Smoothe curves

Speed~Line often vectorizes Bézier curves in order to reproduce curvature in pixel graphics as closely as possible. Due to this process some curves will look like straight lines. It is therefore possible to use this parameter to specify the offset distance in pixels within which an almost straight curve is converted back to a line segement.

Lines / Lines & Curves

In the Lines/Curves group, you must select the type of line to be used when Speed~Line traces a raster graphic. If you select the Lines button, Speed~Line will use short straight lines only as it traces a raster graphic. If you select Curves, Calamus will use smoother Bézier curves, as well as lines where appropriate, to trace the graphic; Bézier curves take longer to calculate.

Curve precision

This function allows you to set the level of precision as Speed~Line calculates curves. Of course, Curves mode must be selected in the Lines/Curves box. The level of precision increases from the left icon to the right one.

Object filter parameters

When scanning graphics, stray pixels often arise that should not be incorporated in the graphic. With the Object filter you can set the size of the unwanted objects in pixels that should be left out of the vector graphic. The filter can be activated/deactivated by a separate button.

Load/Save settings

Once you have found the correct parameters for a particular type of graphic, you can save all settings to floppy or hard disk. Naturally you can also load these parameters again.
The Speed~Line program after starting loads the file SPEEDLIN.CSL as the parameter file automatically, so that you can set the starting condition by saving your parameters in SPEEDLIN.CSL.

Info

If this button is active, then Speed~Line will display the number of lines, curves and objects created after completing the vectorization calculations.

Contour

If this button is active, the vectorized graphic will consist only of outlines, i.e. of lines and objects without any fill colour or pattern.

Author

Shows the Copyright information.

Vectorize

The Speed~Line program can be terminated at any time by clicking on the Exit icon or by pressing the [Undo] key.
A click on [OK] or the [Return] key activates the program.
After performing the calculations for vectorizing (which may take some time for complex objects), then if the above-mentioned Info button is active a small dialog shows the number of lines, curves and objects that were generated.