D-Type VIVO Image Vectorizer

Turn photos and raster images into fully scalable vector art that looks as realistic as the original.

D-Type VIVO is the result of our latest work on advanced bitmap-to-vector conversion algorithms. We aimed to create a versatile vector-based format suitable for virtually any device (desktop and mobile) that scales seamlessly to any size (much like SVG), renders quickly (even on slower machines), and can also express the richness, texture and detail of photos and high-resolution bitmap images (for example, in JPEG and PNG format). We also wanted to find out whether it’s possible to automatically convert existing high-resolution bitmaps, particularly photographs, to this new format. If all this sounds ambitious and complicated, it truly is. However, these goals, while challenging, are not impossible to achieve. D-Type VIVO Image Vectorizer is the proof.

D-Type VIVO technology was developed in parallel with D-Type Shading Rasterizer. This rasterizer is responsible for rendering VIVO scalable images, regardless of how they were created. In contrast, D-Type VIVO Image Vectorizer serves as the front-end for converting existing bitmaps to the VIVO scalable format. It’s the brain behind the bitmap-to-vector conversion process and the engine in charge of crunching through millions of pixels present in every high-resolution bitmap image!

D-Type VIVO Image Vectorizer is currently available as a command-line application; a graphical user interface (GUI) will be added in the future. However, this has no impact on the underlying vectorization engine or the results that can be obtained using this vectorizer. Given a reasonably good quality bitmap and the right conversion settings, D-Type VIVO Image Vectorizer generates a beautiful and detail-rich vector image that looks just as good as the original, if not better. Of course, one should always keep in mind that D-Type VIVO Image Vectorizer generates a 100% vector based image — so it can be seamlessly scaled to any size, rotated, stretched using a transformation matrix etc. Here is one example to better illustrate what we are talking about.

**FIG 1** D-Type VIVO Scalable Image
No, this is not a bitmap image but 100% vector based graphics!

**FIG 2** **Zoom in — Eyes**
Note how sharp and smooth the edges above and around the eyes are.

**FIG 3** **Zoom in some more — Eyes**
Move your mouse pointer over the image and hold the mouse button down to see the original bitmap.

**FIG 4** **Zoom in — Lips**
Note how VIVO captures the texture of the lips.

**FIG 5** **Zoom in some more — Lips**
Move your mouse pointer over the image and hold the mouse button down to see the original bitmap.

D-Type VIVO Gives You Exceptional Bitmap-To-Vector Conversion Quality

Human likeness is particularly difficult to represent convincingly. Our eyes are trained from birth to recognize real human faces and distinguish them from unconvincing depictions. We are very good at detecting even the smallest artifacts and anomalies in the representation of the human skin and various facial features (e.g. eyes, eyebrows, strands of hair, lips, etc). If the contrast between the pixels is not right, if some pixels are astray, or if unnatural edges are visible, most people will describe the conversion result as "a computer model", "a cartoon character" or "a vectorized face". This phenomenon, also known as the uncanny valley, poses a significant challenge for most bitmap-to-vector conversion tools. However, this is not the case for D-Type VIVO Image Vectorizer! As the images above demonstrate, D-Type VIVO Image Vectorizer is capable of generating scalable vector images that capture human likeness exceptionally well.

D-Type VIVO Image Vectorizer is provided at no cost when you purchase a license for one of the following D-Type libraries:

Features

Amazing output quality. Vectorized images have no visible pixels, jaggies or aliased edges.
Natural and photo-realistic appearance. Output vector images look remarkably lifelike.
Utilizes cutting-edge algorithms to analyze and resolve details in input bitmaps.
Successfully eliminates JPEG and similar minor compression artifacts present in input bitmaps.
A single VIVO file is suitable for and can be used on any device, platform or operating system.
Resulting vector images can be scaled to any size, rotated or transformed using a 3×3 transformation matrix.

Key Specifications

Availability	Windows Linux macOS
Application Interface	Command Line Interface (CLI)
Supported Input Image Formats	PNG JPEG Windows BMP
Supported Output Formats	D-Type VIVO Scalable Vector Graphics D-Type PowerDoc Document
Suitability	Color images: photographs, pictures, paintings, illustrations, etc. Grayscale images: photographs, illustrations, line art, text etc. High-resolution black-and-white images

Examples

Here are a few examples that show D-Type VIVO Image Vectorizer in action.

Vectorized Color Photographs

This example demonstrates the result obtained by converting a color bitmap to D-Type’s VIVO scalable vector format. We present the original bitmap at full size first, followed by the vector version underneath. Next, we show the original bitmap again, accompanied by the vector version — this time featuring a magnified detail. Note how the original version displays visible jaggies and aliasing artifacts, which are absent in the vectorized version of the same image.

**FIG 6** Input Raster Image — Full Size

**FIG 7** Output Vector Image — Full Size

**FIG 8** Input Raster Image — Zoomed Detail

**FIG 9** Output Vector Image — Zoomed Detail

Vectorized Grayscale Photographs

Here is another example demonstrating the result obtained by converting a grayscale bitmap to D-Type’s VIVO scalable vector format. The original bitmap at full size is shown in FIG 10 and the vector version is presented in FIG 11. Immediately following that, we display the original bitmap in FIG 12 and the vector version in FIG 13 — this time featuring a magnified detail. Note how the original version exhibits visible jaggies and aliasing artifacts.

**FIG 10** Input Raster Image — Full Size

**FIG 11** Output Vector Image — Full Size

**FIG 12** Input Raster Image — Zoomed Detail

**FIG 13** Output Vector Image — Zoomed Detail

Vectorized Black-And-White Text

It’s also interesting to observe the results of converting a black-and-white bitmap image to D-Type VIVO format. As before, the original bitmap at full size is shown first, followed by the vector version underneath. Next, we present a magnified detail. Note how the black-and-white bitmap, which displays noticeable jaggies, transforms into a much smoother-looking scalable vector image with smooth (anti-aliased) edges.