Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for converting raster images into a vector format by identifying and converting the borders of image features into a mathematical format referred to as string sequences. To enable the string sequencing of color images, the present invention identifies and resolves contrast conflicts in the image features in order to avoid misperceiving the vectorized image when converted back into a raster format. A contrast conflict occurs when there is a “contrast tie” between overlapping features of the image. The feature that would normally be perceived as the dominant feature breaks the contrast tie so that when the vector image is reconstructed, the dominate feature appears in the foreground of the image while the recessive feature appears in the background.