MetaPixel CNC OnLine Raster to Vector Converter

MetaPixel Image to Vector Converter

MetaPixel converts black and white images into smooth vector outlines with optional CNC optimization, DXF and gcode output options. MetaPixel incorporates SVG (scalable vector graphics) for its versatility and interactive online viewing functionality. The SVG format can reflect CNC optimization to support subsequent DXF and gcode output for CNC. Other available (desktop publishing) vector output formats are not specifically designed for or optimized here for CNC and most CAM software that can import can also optimize those formats.

If you do not see two images below then you need to install the Adobe SVG viewer browser plugin.

Source graphics should be black and white where black is the object being cut out and white is all other blank space. Non black and white colors are converted to black and white through nonspecific threshold filtering. GIF format works best. BMP files are usually too big. JPEG images are usually too noisy.

If you get a message that says 'KILLED', then the server killed the process for excess resource usage. Try using non-transparent true black and white GIFs for maximum efficiency and efficacy.

The SVG result contains red outlines to indicate counterclockwise tool paths, and blue outlines to indicate clockwise tool paths.

For solid (one piece) shapes using cut thru machinery, use solid filled shapes (silohuettes).

For thin line engraving applications try outlined (not filled) source graphics.

For shape milling (with pocket milling [and drilling]) try MetaEtch.

Two raster to vector methods are provided based on two different open source raster to vector software applications. They both do a remarkable good job, but typically one will do better than the other depending on the source image size, quality and composition.

AutoTrace is larger and slower than PoTrace, but it does offer more output formats and the results tend to be smoother overall because small sharp details tend to get averaged out more so than with PoTrace which tends to produce more corners and much less loss of small scale details due to smoothing. Just try both...

AutoTrace Options

despeckle		eliminate isolated fragments smaller than this (in pixels) noise reduction
dpi		only affects upstream CNC eccentric scaling not applicable toward preliminary vector conversions
simplify		set minimum path component length feature reduction, higher values produce fewer path components
smooth		smoothing algorithm recursion higher values produce smoother curvatures, does not affect corners
linearity		sets minimum linearity higher values produce more line segments to approximate curves
straighten		sets minimum curvature higher values replace more shallow curves with line segments

PoTrace Options

dpi		only affects upstream CNC eccentric scaling not applicable toward preliminary vector conversions
quantize		pixel division higher values for smaller images can produce smoother curves
smooth		smoothing factor higher values produce smoother curves
detail		preserve details further reduces small scale smoothing

See MetaPicture for a more complete general raster to vector implimentation with no MetaPixel CNC eccentric features.

MetaPicture via AutoTrace

MetaPicture via PoTrace