Abstract: Computer based images are normally provided in the form of large amounts of data on a pixel by pixel basis. Method and apparatus (25) are disclosed for converting this pixel based data (7,8,9-16,17) to spline based data (FIG. 5) wherein the characteristics present in the pixel based data are substantially retained in the spline based version of the image.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for converting an object of a computerized graphics system defined by a plurality of spline formats into a corresponding object defined by a plurality of quadratic polynomial fragments (QPF). The method and apparatus include, for each spline of the object, selecting start and end points on the spline and designating the selected start and end points as control start and end points on the corresponding QPF, determining from the control points of the spline coefficients of a quadratic polynomial defining the QPF. The coefficients of the quadratic polynomial are used to determine if an error between the spline and the quadratic polynomial is below a predetermined level. In the case the error is below a predetermined level, QPF data describing the quadratic polynomial is determined from the coefficients of the quadratic polynomial.