Binary(b/w), edge detect, outlines?

[Drahken]

Would it be possible to add to xnview (or does anyone know of a downloadable filter) the ability to convert an image to b/w outlines (similar to a coloring book, or some comic strips)?
Right now, the only binary options try to take shading into account as best they can.
Edge detect results in something that looks more like neon lights than anything else, although it does achieve the outlines that I want.
Currently I only know of one way to get what I'm looking for, and that's to use irfanview to save an image in LDF format using the fax setting. (The problems with that are that you don't get the outlines until you save and reopen the image, and that the lines are jagged instead of smooth.)
http://allspark.net/cypherswipe/no-dither.png <-you can see how this one makes a vain attempt to account for the shading in the image.
http://allspark.net/cypherswipe/edge-detect.png <-this is after a lot of playing around with brightness/gamma/contrast, and is still indistinct shades of grey (although it does come close, if I could get better contrast)
http://allspark.net/cypherswipe/LDF.png <-you can see how this one ignores shading and just does the outlines, similar to the edge detect method.
http://allspark.net/cypherswipe/original.jpg <-this is the original pic

[xnview]

Would it be possible to add to xnview (or does anyone know of a downloadable filter) the ability to convert an image to b/w outlines (similar to a coloring book, or some comic strips)?
Right now, the only binary options try to take shading into account as best they can.
Edge detect results in something that looks more like neon lights than anything else, although it does achieve the outlines that I want.
Currently I only know of one way to get what I'm looking for, and that's to use irfanview to save an image in LDF format using the fax setting. (The problems with that are that you don't get the outlines until you save and reopen the image, and that the lines are jagged instead of smooth.)
http://allspark.net/cypherswipe/no-dither.png <-you can see how this one makes a vain attempt to account for the shading in the image.
http://allspark.net/cypherswipe/edge-detect.png <-this is after a lot of playing around with brightness/gamma/contrast, and is still indistinct shades of grey (although it does come close, if I could get better contrast)
http://allspark.net/cypherswipe/LDF.png <-you can see how this one ignores shading and just does the outlines, similar to the edge detect method.
http://allspark.net/cypherswipe/original.jpg <-this is the original pic

Do you have tried with Image/Adjust/Levels

[XnTriq]

Drahken

• Mehdi Plugins: Fine Threshold (free)
  Unlike the traditional threshold command of Photoshop, the plugin Fine Threshold allows to get quickly, anti-aliased and sharp shapes.
• Stoik Imaging: Color By Number ($19.95)
  Color By Number lets you to convert photo to a paint-by-number pattern. Just scan the photo or load graphics file from disk, choose the brand of paints/crayons to be used and the program will convert your photo to a paint-by-number pattern optimized for the palette you have chosen. You can print the pattern together with color key.