Autor: Lloyd Konneker (bootch nc.rr.com)
Data: 2009
In menu Gimp: Filters -> Edge-Detect -> Trace...

More interesting information can be found in the readme-plugin-trace.txt file

After reading a very interesting topic:
Paint Paths in Steps plug-in
http://gimpchat.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17482
I remembered Plugin-trace.py - I've never managed to run it in Windows.

Now I know that this is due to the type of files supported by autotrace (it does not support png files - I do not know if this is a bug or a change in autotrace) and a few spaces...

Download and install autotrace - anywhere but autotrace and gimp must be on one disk:
https://github.com/autotrace/autotrace/releases


The temporary file is saved interactively - and important (the problem of autotrace or my older version of the 32bit file that supports Win Vista):

In Compatibility Options
Select Do not write color space information.

I do not know if it will work for Linux - so I invite You to Test...

Edit: I'm sorry - the old attachment was incomplete

Don't believe Autotrace works in Win10; does in WinXP. Potrace work in all OSs.

There is an updated version, Autotrace 0.4 that is now maintained. It does work in Windows 10 (certainly 64 bit, have not tried 32 bit)

see: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17482&start=30#p240202

The problem with potrace is no center-line trace but it is better in certain circumstances

@MareroQ

That zip seems to contain just two versions of the Readme, no version 0.2
I have the archived v. 0.1 but no trace of 0.2 Can you check your zip file.

I have used autotrace on CL for years, the issue with png headers is a pain, so can bmp files having to set the no color information. pnm (RAW) also works.

Thanks for the info, Rich. Glad they are supporting it once again and cool that it's now available in 64-bit. I've not kept up with Autotrace since it no longer supported in Win10 (not remember if it even worked in Win8.1; lol). I have it in my WinXP VM and use it sparingly. Just downloaded and installed it. Will test it out soon.

OK; only seems to work with BMP files (no PNG support) but does work. Haven't tried JPG yet (but will soon) but I see no libraries in the directory like the old Autotrace. Wonder where I can get said libraries that support all the graphic options that the old version does (old meaning 32 bit)?

edit:

Doesn't work for jpegs either.

Hi Lylejk
From the description of the function
input-format: TGA, PBM, PNM, PGM, PPM or BMP.

Hi Rich2005
I apologize for the wrong attachment - I changed in post # 1.
I added the option save the temporary file as PPM (but without the alpha channel - so the plugin flattens the layer)

That is pretty good.

Never going to replace expensive commercial applications (which originated from autotrace in the first place think vector-magick @ $10 a month)

Using Linux: Into multi-window mode for examples:

1. Typical centerline trace of a jpg (which would have been a vector originally)



This is actually very good. A nice clean path.

2. One of the often asked questions. A small logo - make it larger without blurring. The usual answer is make a svg using Inkscape. Possibilities here, although autotrace never was good with text, so lose that. I do know the limitations of autotrace but might save a bit of hand tracing with the path tool.



For linux users, temporary files, including svg's are in /usr/tmp/gimp/2.10 Keep an eye on that, fills up quickly.

Hi Rich2005

Thank You for the test and comments.
If You time - can You make a small video-presentation?

Ver 0.3

Some minor changes:
1.Add output directory to save temp file,
2.Replace "Smoothing" (PF_OPTION) to "Corner-threshold" (PF_SPINNER)
3.Changed descriptions...

Sweeeeeeet, thank you MareroQ
Seems to work okay, only ran a quick test so far.

To say goodbye to this topic.

Ver. 0.4

-resignation from the selection of directories ["Autotrace executable file" and "Output directory to save temp file"] to eliminate the problem of spaces in the names
(which autotrace does not tolerate). Requires (for Windows) copying the autotrace.exe file to the bin Gimp directory.
A location was set for Linux: "/usr/bin/autotrace". You can edit in line 185.
-add options: "Path visible?": Yes/No
-the rendered image(layer and path) is named as the source layer (accepts spaces - because the name is given after the autotrace has finished)

MareroQ, I cannot get Trace to work. I have Win 10, 64 bit, Gimp 2.10.12. I put Autotrace.exe in the Gimp portable bin folder and the Trace in preferences plug in folder. I tried to make outline of a black silhouette and centerlines of a simple design but could not get either. Must be using wrong settings? Suggestions?
Here are the errors that I get:

Hi Pat.

For the purposes of the test:
- in Edit -> Preferences -> Folders, change the default location of the temporary folder to a suitable one for portable:
i.e. for example d:\Gimp-2.10.12_Portable-64bit-Win-V2\Preferences\tmp\
- Gimp restart
- use Trace (Delete temp-file? No, Create paths: One, Merged) twice with the option:
1. Save layer to a temp-file as: BMP
2. Save layer to a temp-file as: PPM

Check the Preferences/tmp directory and let me know what gimp-temp files have been created?

Just testing on Win10 64bit, Gimp 2.10.12 from Gimp.org. No problems.
The autotrace.exe I dropped in C:/Program Files/GIMP 2/bin, is the one rich has uploaded to be used with Inkscape centerline extension.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17482&start=30#p240202

I tried to install Autotrace 0.40 first from github, but it gives virus warning.