Can PS or AI "vectorize" a process (photo) image?

[Warren Forsk]

Is there a tool in either Photoshop or (more likely) Illustrator that can
extrapolate (or "guess") vector coordinates based on process data?

Say you have a high resolution, high contrast, black on white image of a
logo... or even a photograph of an apple that has been tweaked in Photoshop
to be virtually black & white, no gray... could AI concievably differentiate
the black pixels from the white, and from there, trace an outline that would
be slightly "rounded" (to compensate for any pixelation jaggedness) - and
thusly, actually "vectorize" a process image?

This would be SO useful. But is it just wishful thinking?

Thanks!

[Warren Forsk]

The reason I'm asking is because I hand-drew a stylized apple and would love
to have this in vector (infinitely stretchable) form.

(Should the exact purpose of the question influence any potential replies)

"Warren Forsk" <wforsk@REMOVEMEscoopthis.com> wrote in message
news:c4vuvf$8jp$1@news.wplus.net...

> Is there a tool in either Photoshop or (more likely) Illustrator that can
> extrapolate (or "guess") vector coordinates based on process data?
>
> Say you have a high resolution, high contrast, black on white image of a
> logo... or even a photograph of an apple that has been tweaked in

Photoshop

> to be virtually black & white, no gray... could AI concievably

differentiate

> the black pixels from the white, and from there, trace an outline that

would

> be slightly "rounded" (to compensate for any pixelation jaggedness) - and
> thusly, actually "vectorize" a process image?
>
> This would be SO useful. But is it just wishful thinking?
>
> Thanks!
>
>

[steggy]

Warren Forsk wrote:

>
> Is there a tool in either Photoshop or (more likely) Illustrator that can
> extrapolate (or "guess") vector coordinates based on process data?
>
> Say you have a high resolution, high contrast, black on white image of a
> logo... or even a photograph of an apple that has been tweaked in Photoshop
> to be virtually black & white, no gray... could AI concievably differentiate
> the black pixels from the white, and from there, trace an outline that would
> be slightly "rounded" (to compensate for any pixelation jaggedness) - and
> thusly, actually "vectorize" a process image?
>
> This would be SO useful. But is it just wishful thinking?
>
> Thanks!

That is the old wish of many Warren.

There is Adobe Streamline, that can vectorize bitmaps and
such. There is the Auto Trace tool in Illustrator, but that
does not do much for me. Flash I have heard does a decent
job, no experience.

As far as I am concerned: I would redraw it with the pen
tool in Illustrator or in Photoshop. You need to get the
experience in Illustrator making curved (Bezier) lines, not
that extremely hard, but you need to do it often. That is
one of the beauties of Illy.


--
steg

[Warren Forsk]

The reason I don't like retracing hand-drawn logos is that there is never
enough anchor points to make it really look soft and fluid in high
resolution.

If I trace something with the pen tool, can I tell AI to "smooth" what I
just traced, so the anchor points aren't as obvious? For example, if I trace
an "8" with about a dozen anchor points. Is there a "rounding" option I can
use afterwards?

"steggy" <steggy@bnrd.invalid.net> wrote in message
news:40738A3E.17437B95@bnrd.invalid.net...

>
> As far as I am concerned: I would redraw it with the pen
> tool in Illustrator or in Photoshop. You need to get the
> experience in Illustrator making curved (Bezier) lines, not
> that extremely hard, but you need to do it often. That is
> one of the beauties of Illy.

[OuTpaTienT]

On Wed, 7 Apr 2004 10:33:40 -0400
in alt.graphics.photoshop
"Warren Forsk" <wforsk@REMOVEMEscoopthis.com> muttered something like
this:

>The reason I don't like retracing hand-drawn logos is that there is never
>enough anchor points to make it really look soft and fluid in high
>resolution.
>
>If I trace something with the pen tool, can I tell AI to "smooth" what I
>just traced, so the anchor points aren't as obvious? For example, if I trace
>an "8" with about a dozen anchor points. Is there a "rounding" option I can
>use afterwards?

Anchor points aren't visible. If your lines aren't transitioning
smoothly then you're not doing it correctly. You should be able to
make an "S" shape using only 3 anchor points or using 50 anchor points
and the two should look identicle.

--
OuTpaTienT / outpatient°AT°rocketmail°DOT°com
[url]http://www.0utpatient.com[/url]
[url]http://www.oeyec.com[/url]

>
>"steggy" <steggy@bnrd.invalid.net> wrote in message
>news:40738A3E.17437B95@bnrd.invalid.net...

>>
>> As far as I am concerned: I would redraw it with the pen
>> tool in Illustrator or in Photoshop. You need to get the
>> experience in Illustrator making curved (Bezier) lines, not
>> that extremely hard, but you need to do it often. That is
>> one of the beauties of Illy.

>