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Rick Sanchez from Rick and Morty

How can I get an array of coordinates of the edge of Rick in order from left to right? I want to make my delta robot draw images.

Additionally, I know that it is possible for Wolfram Alpha to generate a fairly long parametric equation if you ask it to for example "Draw Dratini", is there any way to get an array of coordinates from this?

Thanks!

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I'm not sure that I fully understand what you need, but perhaps the following will help you get started.

First, import the picture:

img = Import["https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/rickandmorty/images/d/dd/Rick.png/revision/latest?cb=20131230003659"]

figure

Then find the outer edge:

edge = EdgeDetect@ColorQuantize[img, 1]

Mathematica graphics

Finally, find the position of white pixels in the edge image:

edgepoints = Position[ImageData[edge], 1]

(* Out:

{{1, 85}, {1, 88}, {1, 89}, {2, 85}, {2, 89}, {2, 90}, {3, 85}, {3, 90}, ...}

*)

If you want only some of those points, then you can pick e.g. every other point from those results:

edgepoints[[1 ;; All ;; 2]]
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  • $\begingroup$ If I want half as many points, would I change that 1 to a different number? $\endgroup$
    – Jenny
    Commented Jan 25, 2016 at 5:12
  • $\begingroup$ @Jenny No, the $1$ directs position to find the white pixels in the image, that are represented by a 1 value. If you want half as many points, you could pick e.g. every other point from the result (see edit). $\endgroup$
    – MarcoB
    Commented Jan 25, 2016 at 5:21
  • $\begingroup$ Note that Position[ImageData[...]] returns indices, not coordinates. (The distinction is a bit confusing in MMA image processing, see for example: mathematica.stackexchange.com/a/104047/242). Use PixelValuePositions[edge, 1] to get the coordinates. Rule of thumb: If you want to manipulate the raw array returned by ImageData, use indices. If you want to draw something over the image using e.g. Show, use coordinates $\endgroup$
    – Niki Estner
    Commented Jan 25, 2016 at 7:58
  • $\begingroup$ @nikie Ha! Excellent point! I had not realized that. Thank you for pointing that out. $\endgroup$
    – MarcoB
    Commented Jan 25, 2016 at 8:40
  • $\begingroup$ Perhaps you could keep points with density proportional to the curvature.See @nikie's answer mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/95425/… $\endgroup$
    – Dr. belisarius
    Commented Jan 30, 2016 at 18:24

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