Traceweaver
Traceweaver finds the energy in a frame and turns it into drawn paths. It can outline a subject, connect details into a plotting mesh, or scatter sketch-like points through the image. The result stays attached to the footage while the line language changes around it.
Choose a trace style
Trace Style offers Contour Web, Plotter Mesh, and Sketch Constellation. Contour Web is the default and follows the image with connected contours. Plotter Mesh gives paths a more constructed, diagrammatic relationship. Sketch Constellation breaks the image into a looser network with optional sparkle.
Direct the paths
| Control | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Trace Count | Raises the number of content-following traces and nodes. |
| Stroke Width | Thickens the electric core from 0.25-8. |
| Line Color | Sets the color of the drawn trace. |
| Source Pull | Locks paths more tightly to image edges and contour direction. |
| Span | Lets each trace travel farther through source contours. |
| Gap Jump | Carries lines across weak or broken edges. |
| Path Bend | Bends routes through the source field. High values become unstable quickly. |
| Motion Rate | Adds pulses, dashes, and analog breakup. |
Tail Fade narrows trace endpoints while keeping the central route present. It appears for Plotter Mesh and Sketch Constellation, not Contour Web. Sparkle adds brightness variation and is available with Sketch Constellation. Seed changes the fixed arrangement; turn on Animate when that arrangement should evolve over time.
Try this: an illustrated music-video contour
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Start with Trace Style: Contour Web on a close-up or a subject with strong contrast.
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Raise Source Pull until the lines settle onto the important facial, clothing, or architectural edges.
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Add Span for longer marks and use a restrained Stroke Width to keep the original image visible.
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Set a line color that separates from the source, then add a modest Motion Rate for a living outline.
Try this: a title sequence plot
Choose Trace Style: Plotter Mesh for a graphic title or product shot. Raise Trace Count, bring up Gap Jump so letters remain connected, and introduce Tail Fade for finer ends. Animate Seed only through Animate when the lines should redraw between cuts. Keep Path Bend low at first; it has a strong effect on route stability.
When traces miss the subject
Raise Source Pull before raising Trace Count. If a contour stops at low-contrast sections, increase Gap Jump or lower Span. If the frame becomes too busy, lower Trace Count and Sparkle first. Traceweaver reads best when its paths make a selection about the image instead of tracing every available detail.