AI tracing
How AI mask generation works and what to expect.
How it works
After you mark the paper corners and select a paper size, the image is perspective-corrected using the corner positions, then processed by an AI model to generate silhouette masks for each tool. Tracing starts automatically once corners are set.
Trace limits
Free accounts get 10 lifetime traces plus 1 bonus per month (doesn't stack). Pro accounts get 30 traces per month. See Plans and Limits for details.
Manual mask upload
If automatic tracing produces poor results, you can upload your own mask. The full workflow:
- Download the perspective-corrected image using the Download Image button.
- Copy the built-in prompt to your clipboard (the Copy Prompt button).
- Upload the corrected image and prompt to an external tool (e.g. Gemini) to generate a mask.
- Upload the resulting mask back into Tracefinity using the Upload Mask button.
Masks should be black (tools) on white (background), with sharp edges and no gradients.
Mask preview
After tracing, mask previews are shown for each detected tool. Use these to check quality before selecting which tools to keep.
When tracing goes wrong
The AI handles most tool shapes well, but may struggle with:
- Very thin tools (needles, drill bits) -- outlines may be incomplete or broken.
- Reflective or transparent tools -- the mask may include reflections or miss transparent sections.
- Overlapping tools -- tools touching or overlapping may be merged into a single outline.
If a trace is not right, you can edit the vertices manually in the tool editor, or upload a corrected mask.