A computer implemented method transforms an image (1A) comprised of pixels into a vectorized image specified by a plurality of polygons (1B) that can be subsequently used to aid in image processing and understanding. The pixelated image is processed to extract edge pixels (1C) that separate different colors and a constrained Delaunay triangulation of the edge pixels forms a plurality of triangles having edges that cover the pixelated image (1D). A color for each one of the plurality of triangles is determined from the color pixels within each triangle. A filter is formed with a set of grouping rules related to features of the pixelated image and applied to the plurality of triangle edges to merge adjacent triangles consistent with the filter into polygons having a plurality of vertices. The pixelated image may be then reformed into an array of the polygons, that can be represented collectively and efficiently by standard vector image.