Is there an open source alternative to Vector Magic?

Question

I just discovered this wonderful tool, but I don't have $300 to blow. Are there any free, preferably open source, alternatives?

Answer 1

If you're familiar with Inkscape, there are some trace utilities from their wiki under vectorize/trace section.

Potrace

Potrace is now embedded into Inkscape. You don't need to run it separately.

Autotrace and Frontline (alternatives to Potrace)

Autotrace an open source vectorization program by Martin Weber. That means you can convert bitmap images (like scans) to vector graphics. While not optimal for photos, it does good job on line art and poster-like images. Doesn't do too well with color.

Autotrace has some features not available in the embedded Potrace dialog in Inkscape. For example, there is a centerline switch that is especially usefull for tracing roads (in maps) or font characters.

Frontline is GUI frontend to Autotrace by Masatake Yamato. Frontline can be run as standalone aplication, but it can also be directly accessed from Inkscape and GIMP.

If you want to have tracing option, you have to install both Autotrace and Frontline before compiling Inkscape. Inkscape automatically detects these programs, and adds inline raster to vector conversion option to image menu.

Both Autotrace and Frontline can be downloaded from Sourceforge. Binaries are available for windows and linux.

Delineate

Front end written in java that does interesting things with color images.

Answer 2

There is a free alternative : Inkscape.

Quoted from Auto-Tracing: How To Convert Bitmaps To Vector Drawing

Inkscape is an open source vector graphics editor that is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. Inkscape imports and works with many common graphics formats including JPEG, PNG and TIFF. Inkscape can export images as PNG and other vector-based graphics formats. If you use Inkscape with GIMP, the open source graphics editor, you can get the same capabilities found in their high-priced counterparts.

Inkscape uses the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. Supported SVG features include shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, patterns and grouping. Inkscape also supports Creative Commons meta-data, node editing, layers, complex path operations, bitmap tracing, text-on-path, flowed text, direct XML editing and more.