ImpressionX

(Vector Graphics Creation)

Screenshots:

1) Start ImpressionX and then load the image you wish to convert into a vector graphic.

2) Left-click and check the Advanced checkbox at the top of the Modifying-Original-Image window.

3) On the left are options to reduce speckles and color. This may come in handy if you have too many small objects created in the center of your graphic. To view try the Preview Color Reduction button. After previewing, you will have to close the preview window.

4) When done left-click the Import button at the top left of the window. This will vectorize the image and put the results into the main ImpressionX window.

Perform a right-click here and "Save Target As..." for this Hawk Clip Art in WMF format <<---------

5) Once the image is a vector graphic it will appear somewhat the same but with fewer colors as shown below. Each of the different colors is a separate object now. Try clicking different regions of the graphic to see how they highlight. The red highlight will show the boundaries of each vector object.

6) If you wish to change object colors before you export your vector graphic this is a good time. First left-click on the icon that resembles a multi-colored square or grid on the top row. This will help you retrieve some colors that are not already in your graphic. I chose light blue in the image below. Close this color-palette window and notice your chosen color is shown in a small rectangle at the bottom of the main window where it says RGB.

7) Left-click any object on your newly made graphic and then left-click the icon that looks like a paint bucket at the top of the screen. Notice your chosen color fills the area of the object. You can continue to choose new colors and fill objects until you are happy with the appearance.

8) To save your vector graphic choose the menu File and then Save As from the top of the window. Assure the 'save as type' is Windows Metafile. Give the file a memorable name and push Save. If you are using the trial version of the program the Save As may be grayed out. However, you still have a chance to try out all the options and buttons in the program to see if you like it. If your copy is registered save it as shown above.

9) Next load up your Microsoft Power Point. Highlight the entire slide and then clear it off to make it blank. Choose Insert and then Picture. Browse to find your Vector graphic created recently.

10) Once your vector image is loaded Right-click on the image. Choose Group and then the submenu called Ungroup from the list. When asked if you want to "Convert it to a Microsoft Office Drawing" left-click Yes.

11) At this point you should be able to click on the individual vector objects and pull them apart from the image as shown above. How cool is that? If you can't then you may have to right-click and choose Group and submenu Ungroup again. Quickly you can see how this might help you make a technical graphic or clip art.

You now have a better idea of how converting raster images into vector graphics works. The possibilities are endless. You could take a black pen and sketch graphics onto a paper. You could in fact sketch many black and white graphics followed by scanning them into your computer and turning them into vector objects. Suddenly you are creating never before seen clip art or logos.

What else would I do with a vector graphic after the conversion from bitmap or raster? I would save the file as DXF. This is a 3D model format. You can use these in my 3D model tutorials, AutoCAD, 3DS, Bryce 5D, as well as the freeware program called Google 'Sketchup'. What do you do with it then? If you drew your idea of a flat blue-print like plan for a house you wanted. You could scan it into vector and later import the DXF into Google Sketchup. After that you begin to extrude (give the 3D object depth) your floor plan and begin building the schematic in 3D environment. This is just one example but you get the idea of how going from 2D to 3D with vectorization might save you time.

ImpressionX:

ImpressionX does Raster to Vector, Paint by Numbers and More. Here is the trial version below. It can convert color images to black and white line-art, and place numbers to create paint-by-number pages. Additionally ImpressionX is said to produce color separations and print on multiple pages for creating large paintings. Author: Rob Arnold and License type: Shareware - File Size: 1.26 MB - Release Date: Jan 24, 1999.

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Click here to Download ImpressionX v1.01a by Rob Arnold
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Written March08 and Updated Apr09 by Tracy Rose