# Vectorization of Line Drawings via PolyVector Fields

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1801.01922 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1801.01922/

## Key facts

- Cited by 16 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 5 Jan 2018.

## Built on by (most cited first, 16 of 16)

- [Im2Vec: Synthesizing Vector Graphics without Vector Supervision](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.02798/) (2021)
- [CanvasVAE: Learning to Generate Vector Graphic Documents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.01249/) (2021)
- [Learning to generate line drawings that convey geometry and semantics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.12691/) (2022)
- [De-rendering Stylized Texts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.01890/) (2021)
- [VecFusion: Vector Font Generation with Diffusion](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.10540/) (2023)
- [DuetSVG: Unified Multimodal SVG Generation with Internal Visual Guidance](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.10894/) (2025)
- [Text-guided Image-and-Shape Editing and Generation: A Short Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.09244/) (2023)
- [Building Footprint Extraction in Dense Areas using Super Resolution and Frame Field Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.01656/) (2023)
- [MARVEL: Raster Manga Vectorization via Primitive-wise Deep Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.04830/) (2021)
- [Historical Astronomical Diagrams Decomposition in Geometric Primitives](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.08721/) (2024)
- [From Fragment to One Piece: A Survey on AI-Driven Graphic Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.18641/) (2025)
- [A Multimodal Approach to Alzheimer's Diagnosis: Geometric Insights from Cube Copying and Cognitive Assessments](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.16184/) (2025)
- [Robust reconstructions by multi-scale/irregular tangential covering](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.05688/) (2021)
- [Improving Image Tracing with Convolutional Autoencoders by High-Pass Filter Preprocessing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.09039/) (2023)
- [Optimize and Reduce: A Top-Down Approach for Image Vectorization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.11334/) (2023)
- [DOGE: Differentiable Bezier Graph Optimization for Road Network Extraction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.19850/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Image tracing is a foundational component of the workflow in graphic design, engineering, and computer animation, linking hand-drawn concept images to collections of smooth curves needed for geometry processing and editing. Even for clean line drawings, modern algorithms often fail to faithfully vectorize junctions, or points at which curves meet; this produces vector drawings with incorrect connectivity. This subtle issue undermines the practical application of vectorization tools and accounts for hesitance among artists and engineers to use automatic vectorization software. To address this issue, we propose a novel image vectorization method based on state-of-the-art mathematical algorithms for frame field processing. Our algorithm is tailored specifically to disambiguate junctions without sacrificing quality.