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+--- Thread: written text to LASER (/Thread-written-text-to-LASER)
written text to LASER - djevanstn - 01-14-2025
My son has a recipe, written on a piece of paper, that was laid on a piece of paper, then photographed. I'm trying to get an end result of "just" the "text" / notes (in that photograph etc.)
I hope that makes sense. Three layers so to speak, and some accompanying "unwanted artifacts." ("layers" are the desired text, the white base piece of paper, and the paper the recipe was written on, with some marks of spiral book page marks on left edge.
Ideally, I like to get to a point where I can give him back an .SVG with "text only" on a transparent background so he can print it on some "type of media" with his laser machine.
The desire is getting that text off the paper on to a transparent background. I'm just not able to figure "it" out. I simply have tried so long, I've just thoroughly confused myself. If any of you can spare a bit of time, any guidance would certainly be appreciated.
I am not an expert by any means with GIMP or graphic arts. There is good contrast of the text and the paper. I've tried to attach one of them, but I haven't been allowed to do that so far. (there are 2 similar to be converted/extracted) He wants to keep the authors "script."
RE: written text to LASER - rich2005 - 01-14-2025
You are starting from a fairly low base, so do not expect miracles. Just some possibilities.
In Gimp, first thing I might do is crop the scan to just the text. That leaves a small-ish image so scale it up. I scaled 400%
To "enhance" the scan, get the Gimp gmic plugin http://www.gmic.eu There are versions for several linux distros.
There is a Repair Scanned Documents filter cleans up the background and darkens the writing. You might need to do a little hand editing in places as well. If you want transparency then Colors -> Color to Alpha defaults to White, just apply it.
[attachment=12905]
Getting a SVG is another matter. Gimp is a raster editor and does not export vector formats, you want Inkscape for that. Not going to dwell on Inkscape but open your (png from gimp) and either trace the outline or centerline trace.
[attachment=12908]
Attached a couple of Inkscape svg's - just as quick examples
You can open in Gimp.