image-tools

name	image-tools
description	CLI image manipulation — convert PNG/JPG to SVG, remove watermarks, resize, crop, and edit raster images using ImageMagick and vtracer

Image Tools

CLI-first image manipulation using ImageMagick (raster) and vtracer (raster-to-vector).

Prerequisites

Check if installed

which magick && echo "imagemagick OK" || echo "need: brew install imagemagick" which vtracer && echo "vtracer OK" || echo "need: cargo install vtracer"

Install if missing: brew install imagemagick # raster image editing cargo install vtracer # raster-to-vector conversion (Rust)

Raster-to-SVG Conversion

Simple flat icon (single/few colors)

Best for logos, icons, flat illustrations:

vtracer --input input.png --output output.svg
--colormode color
--filter_speckle 10
--color_precision 4
--corner_threshold 60
--segment_length 6
--gradient_step 32

High-detail image

For complex images, increase precision:

vtracer --input input.png --output output.svg
--colormode color
--filter_speckle 4
--color_precision 6
--corner_threshold 60
--segment_length 4

Black-and-white / monochrome

For line art, text, or single-color designs:

vtracer --input input.png --output output.svg --colormode bw

Tuning guide

• file too large → increase filter_speckle, gradient_step, decrease color_precision
• too rough/blocky → decrease segment_length, filter_speckle
• too many colors → decrease color_precision (1-8, lower = fewer colors)

Raster Editing with ImageMagick

Remove watermark / overlay

Paint over a region with a solid color (e.g. matching background):

Get image dimensions first

magick identify input.png

Paint rectangle over bottom-right corner (100x100 area)

magick input.png -fill "#0F0F0F" -draw "rectangle 1180,1180 1280,1280" output.png

Resize

Resize to specific width, maintain aspect ratio

magick input.png -resize 512x output.png

Resize to exact dimensions

magick input.png -resize 512x512! output.png

Resize to fit within bounds (no upscale)

magick input.png -resize 512x512> output.png

Crop

Crop to 500x500 from top-left

magick input.png -crop 500x500+0+0 output.png

Crop from center

magick input.png -gravity center -crop 500x500+0+0 output.png

Format conversion

magick input.png output.jpg magick input.jpg output.webp magick input.png -quality 85 output.jpg

Trim whitespace / transparent borders

magick input.png -trim +repage output.png

Threshold (prepare for BW tracing)

magick input.png -threshold 50% output.pbm

Common Workflows

Clean image then convert to SVG

When source image has watermarks, logos, or artifacts:

1. Check dimensions

magick identify input.jpg

2. Remove unwanted elements (paint over with background color)

magick input.jpg -fill "#BACKGROUND" -draw "rectangle x1,y1 x2,y2" clean.jpg

3. Convert to SVG

vtracer --input clean.jpg --output output.svg --colormode color
--filter_speckle 10 --color_precision 4 --corner_threshold 60
--segment_length 6 --gradient_step 32

4. Check output size (aim for <50KB for icons)

ls -la output.svg

Create favicon from logo

Resize to favicon sizes

magick logo.png -resize 32x32 favicon-32.png magick logo.png -resize 16x16 favicon-16.png

Or create .ico with multiple sizes

magick logo.png -resize 256x256 -define icon:auto-resize=256,128,64,48,32,16 favicon.ico

Decision Guide

Task	Tool
PNG/JPG → SVG	vtracer
Resize, crop, format convert	magick
Remove watermark	magick (paint over) → then vtracer if SVG needed
Trim borders	magick
Create favicon	magick