Object-based Vectorization

Description

We present a technique for creating an editable vector graphic from an object in a raster image. Object selection is performed interactively in subsecond time by calling graph cut with each mouse movement. A renderable mesh is then computed automatically for the selected object and each of its subobjects by (1) generating a coarse mesh; (2) performing recursive graph cut segmentation and hierarchical ordering of subobjects; (3) applying error-driven mesh refinement to each (sub)obejct. The fully layered object hierarchy compares favorably with current approaches and is computed in a few tens of seconds, facilitating object-level editing without leaving holes.
From abstract of Object-based Vectorization for Interactive Image Editing.

Publications

Object-based Vectorization for Interactive Image Editing
Brian Price, William Barrett
Visual Computer (Proceedings of Pacific Graphics 2006). Vol 22, No 9-11. Sept. 2006. p. 661-670.
Pre-print: pdf 1.9MB. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com.
Video: mov 50.3MB. Presentation: ppt 8.4MB.

Master's Thesis

Image Vectorization
Brian Price
Master's Thesis, Department of Computer Science, Brigham Young University. August 2006.
Final copy: pdf 4.2MB.