This project log is going to focus on the line scan algorithm parameters used to generate paint strokes from a bitmap image. I described the longest line selection component of the algorithm in a previous project log (https://hackaday.io/project/166524-if-then-paint/log/165761-generate-paint-strokes-from-a-bitmap-image) so I will not touch on it here. 

I like to think that the If Then Paint line scan algorithm is just the beginning of what is possible. There are other unique approaches to generating paint stroke lines from bitmap images that have not been explored yet. Each possible of creating unique painterly effects. Wouldn't it be great if we had a cnc painting machine platform to test out new algorithms and have multiple algorithms available in a single software package? -> Well, welcome to the If Then Paint project.

At a high level, the If Then Paint line scan algorithm works by scanning the paint brush profile size across the image at different angles, looking at whether each paint brush profile location has a high enough percentage of pixels of the scan color to be considered a valid location, then connecting adjacent valid brush profile locations into valid stroke lines. It is a computationally heavy, brute force method that has worked well so far to generate paint strokes from any bitmap image. 

The following line scan algorithm input parameters can be adjusted to create different painterly effects:

• Scan Angle. The scan angle is the angle (relative to the horizontal) at which the algorithm scans the brush profile size across the image. Specifying the number of scan angles to use is a balance between ensuring that the stroke lines are scanned at enough angles to follow the contours of the image and the duration it takes to perform the line scan. The number of scan angles is the most influential factor on how long it takes to perform the line scan algorithm. A low scan angle count will give the painting a more grid or cross hatch look. A high scan angle count will make the paint strokes look more organic and flowy.
• Profile Width. The profile width is the width of the stroke profile that gets scanned across the image. A larger profile width is representative of a larger physical brush width and vise versa. Larger brush profiles are good for covering large single color areas. Smaller profile widths will capture finer image details.
• Profile Length. The profile length is the forward increment that the stroke profile advances along the scan angle. A smaller profile length will result in better coverage at the image color boundaries but will also increase the run time of the algorithm. 
• Color Match Threshold. The color match threshold is a percentage value used to validate or invalidate a profile location. If the percentage of pixels within the profile location that match the scan color is greater than or equal to the color match threshold, the profile location is considered valid. A smaller color match threshold will make the stroke lines of a line scan more dominant at the color boundaries. Too high of a color match threshold can make a no man's land between color boundaries; where no stroke profile has a high enough percentage of pixel color matches to be valid. 
• Scan Line Overlap. The scan line offset overlap is the overlap between two adjacent and parallel stroke profile scan lines as a percentage of profile width. It translates directly to physical paint stroke overlap. A scan line overlap of zero will result in no overlap between parallel strokes. A larger scan line overlap decreases the distance between scan lines which increase the number of scan lines required to cover the image and increases the algorithm run time.
• Minimum Line Length. The minimum line length parameter controls the minimum allowable stroke line length. I use a small minimum line length that is just larger than zero when I want to reduce the number of "dot" strokes. A dot stroke occur at a profile location that has enough percentage of the scan color to be valid, but because none of the adjacent profile locations are valid a stroke line cannot be constructed. Too high of a minimum line length could result in poor paint coverage in locations with small color clusters (i.e. locations where dot strokes occur).
• Maximum Line Length. The maximum line length parameter controls the maximum allowable stroke line length. With a small maximum line length, it should be possible to generate paint strokes in a more impressionist style.

A wide range of painterly effects can be achieved with the current line scan algorithm. Someday soon I hope to get a chance to really push it's limits and explore what new paint stroke styles are possible with combinations of input parameters.