Abstract We present a fully automated technique that segments raster images into smooth shaded regions and reconstructs them using an optimal mix of solid fills, linear gradients, and radial gradients. Our method leverages a novel discontinuity‐aware segmentation strategy and gradient reconstruction algorithm to accurately capture intricate shading details and produce compact Bézier curve representations. Extensive evaluations on both designer‐created art and generative images demonstrate that our approach achieves high visual fidelity with minimal geometric complexity and fast processing times. This work offers a robust and versatile solution for converting detailed raster images into scalable vector graphics, addressing the evolving needs of modern design workflows.

We describe our successful initiative to accelerate Adobe Illustrator with the graphics hardware pipeline of modern GPUs. Relying on OpenGL 4.4 plus recent OpenGL extensions for advanced blend modes and first-class GPU-accelerated path rendering, we accelerate the Adobe Graphics Model (AGM) layer responsible for rendering sophisticated Illustrator scenes. Illustrator documents render in either an RGB or CMYK color mode. While GPUs are designed and optimized for RGB rendering, we orchestrate OpenGL rendering of vector content in the proper CMYK color space and accommodate the 5+ color components required. We support both non-isolated and isolated transparency groups, knockout, patterns, and arbitrary path clipping. We harness GPU tessellation to shade paths smoothly with gradient meshes. We do all this and render complex Illustrator scenes 2 to 6x faster than CPU rendering at Full HD resolutions; and 5 to 16x faster at Ultra HD resolutions.