Spotlight (graphical editor)

• 1998 (July) - Spotlight v.2.0
• 1999 (May) - Spotlight v.2.1
• 2000 (February) - Spotlight v.3.0
• 2001 (March) - Spotlight v.3.4
• 2001 (September) - Spotlight v. 4.0
• 2002 (October) - Spotlight v.5.0
• 2003 (September) - Spotlight v. 6.0
• 2004 (June) - Spotlight v. 6.0 SP4
• 2006 (September) - Spotlight v.7.0
• 2009 (January) - Spotlight v.8.0
• 2010 (April) - Spotlight v.9.0
• 2010 (August) - Spotlight v.9.1
• 2011 (December) - Spotlight v.10.0
• 2018 (January) - Spotlight v.17.0

Scan

For scanning in Spotlight, a special WiseScan LE module is intended, which is an integrated system for managing large format scanners at the hardware level or using the TWAIN interface.

Filtering

To improve the quality of scanned documents, Spotlight uses monochrome and color filters and commands: removing “debris”, filling in “holes”, thickening, thinning, smoothing lines, inversion, raster blurring, adaptive blurring, contour sharpness, averaging, binarization, adaptive binarization, contour sharpness.

Distortion Fix

To eliminate linear and nonlinear deformations, the following tools are implemented in the program :

• skew elimination in manual and automatic modes;
• four-point correction (used for drawings and documents with a rectangular frame);
• calibration (used to eliminate distortions on scanned tablets and cards).

Editing

Spotlight allows you to edit downloaded raster images without converting them to vector format. The program implements the following methods for selecting raster data:

• the area method allows you to select part of the raster image or the entire image;
• The object method allows you to select elements of a raster image with recognition of their geometry.

Using the object selection method makes it possible to edit bitmap graphics using precision drawing tools (object and relative snapping).

Vectorization

Spotlight allows you to translate raster graphics into a vector view. The program implements the following vectorization methods:

• automatic vectorization - allows you to vectorize the entire image in automatic mode with the specified parameters;
• semi-automatic vectorization (tracing) - allows you to vectorize individual elements of a raster image in manual mode;
• color vectorization - allows you to vectorize a color raster image in automatic mode with dividing vectors into separate layers.

Text Recognition

Spotlight Pro has implemented OCR ABBYY FineReader, an OCR module that can be used as an independent command for recognizing scanned text documents and in the process of automatic vectorization for text recognition.

Vectorization Correction

The following commands are used to eliminate defects after automatic vectorization:

• automatic correction of vectors;
• automatic correction of polylines;
• Team Assemble to Polyline .

Rasterization

Spotlight allows you to automatically convert vector graphics to raster format using rasterization .

Batch Processing

Using the Batch File Wizard tool, you can create a processing script consisting of a sequence of Spotlight commands. This batch file can be used as an independent command for processing individual rasters or used as a script in batch mode to process a set of raster images using a specific algorithm.

The open architecture is based on ActiveX technology, which allows you to create your own applications. Applications can be created using an external or built-in code editor that supports JavaScript or Visual Basic Script. To integrate custom forms and commands into the application code, the WYSWYG HTML form editor is used.

• TIFF , RLC , BMP , JPG , JPEG , PCX , C4 , CAL , CIT , TG4 , ECW (limited version), SID (LisardTech), CT4 , T4 , CG4 , GP4 , MIL .
• CWS (Spotlight document versions 5.x, 6.x, 7.x, 8.0, 9.0), DWG / DXF ( AutoCAD versions from 2000 to 2010).

• Adobe Photoshop
• Rasterdesk
• Corel draw

• Polonskaya Lydia. Technological aspects of using Spotlight 7.0 in GIS // CADmaster # 31 / 1.2006. - Moscow: Offset Printing Factory, 2006. - P. 6 .

• Khlebnikova Valentina. Old drawings and new technologies // CAD and graphics No. 9'2005. - Moscow: Thaler Print, 2005 .-- S. 6 .

• Polozyuk Valery. From paper map to GIS. Experience in vectorizing topographic maps in Spotlight // CADmaster # 21 / 1.2004. - Moscow: Offset Printing Factory, 2004. - P. 5 .

• Official site