Corel Trace problem (V13 or X3)

[sconnell]

I have asked Corel about this but thus far I haven't received an answer.

Everytime I use the Corel Trace function the results are excellent *except* for the fact that each object has a border (white space). How do I control or introduct an overlap or anything else that will eliminate this boarder. In many cases there are far too many objects to edit in order for this PowerTrace tool to be useful with these results.

Thank you,
Shawn

 

[Brushman]

Not seen that here is it possible any anti aliasing on the bitmap is giving you this, try merging colours in Powertrace ie are there white or off white bits that can be merged with another.
Alan D

 

[sconnell]

Hello Brushman,

This is not an anti-aliasing issue and there is no bitmap involved in the final rendor. When I switch to NORMAL view the lines do disappear. However, perhaps I should have explained that when I print preview, output to a PDF
document, or export to a any other available format, those lines or object borders are very evident.

Have you used the Power Trace function in X3? Because I am quite sure this is only a problem with X3. I know that version 12's trace tool did not have this problem.

Unless those object borders can be eliminated, this tool is not useful at all. At least in Illustrator one can control overlap.

I have just learned that someone in the Corel Forum has created an overlap script that should solve this issue.

Is this a configuration issue or is it a bug?

Shawn

 

[sconnell]

> try merging colours in Powertrace

Can you please explain how this may be accomplished?

 

[Brushman]

Hi Sconnell (Shawn?) yes I have used the Powertrace, I am one of the beta testers for it. Merge colours by clicking the colour tab in Powertrace - choosing colours and clicking merge. To be clear about the overlap script, If you had a red square with a yellow circle in the middle of it and used Powertrace as is the yellow object would be there and if removed would leave a white hole underneath. Not so useful for signmakers laying vinyl down, the script is run as a vba macro this automatically after a short delay will run Powertrace in the normal way - the yellow object will be there but no hole underneath. I'm fairly certain it was one of the testers who wrote the script. post a request on the News Group and it will probably be posted.
Alan D

 

[sconnell]

Hello Bushman,

Thanks for the tip on color merge, however, that isn't going to help me.

Are you familiar with the problem I have described? Every object is bordered by a "white space." For color merge to work I would have to merge every adjacent color which would practically turn the image monochromatic!

I never had this problem in v12 but I am working for a business that only has v13 (X3). Unless there is something wrong with my installation this Power Trace tool is not very useful at least in regards to converting more complex photorealistic images.

I have not yet received an official response from Corel.

Thank you,
Shawn

 

[sconnell]

BTW, it doesn't matter what type of trace function I use (line art, logo, high/low quality) the annoying "white spaces" are always present. If I Power Trace a simple bitmap the "white spaces" between objects are still present. The only difference with a simple bitmap power traced is that the number of objects to fix is quite managable.

I cannot believe this "white space" issue is by design! Are others using Power Trace and if so, has anyone else encountered this issue? I am wondering if I am simply doing something wrong? Is this all avoidable by some "secret" function? Do I need to know the secret handshake to acquire this valuable knowledge? Who do I have to pay or sleep with to obtain this? I am getting desparate because Power Trace could save me many hundreds of hours of work as opposed to hand drawing (on a computer with mouse and tablet) every graphic I will have to produce.

Thank you again!

 

[Brushman]

Can you send me the resulting trace and if the bitmap is under 1 meg that too. Send to test@adsignwriting.co.uk No promises but I will see if I can reproduce. Are you in the UK? if so a phone call may help.
Alan D

 

[sconnell]

I recently made a few new observations. I feel foolish but at least this is no longer a problem.

1. I could not reproduce the white spaces when printing to a PDF file. I did have this problem in the past.

But I am not going to concern myself with that now since it does work!

It might have been the version of PDF driver I was using - it was upgraded for unrelated reasons this week.

2. If I export to a JPG (with the anti-alias option UNCHECKED) then the resulting image is fine!