FOSS -alternative to quantify images like Vectormagic?

[h]

Our dynamic artworks require tool similar to [0] but in userspace. Hence, it cannot be proprietary -- every user cannot have the license, a puzzle requiring whole community efforts! You can get help here [2] to the research, a lot of blocks already done (things such as imagemagick, potrace -- may become handy) but some missing parts such as the noise/quality -issues that may be only computational issues, who knows? Well, research, research and research!

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References

[0] http://vectormagic.com/home

[1] http://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/7073/vectormagic-com-style-design-by-inkscape-with-bitmap-trace-aka-potrace

[2] http://dsp.stackexchange.com/