tracing JPG or whatever into vectors

[lark1000@adobeforums.com]

Im new to illustrator but i understand the purpose of it. I have images i created in Photoshop that i want to recreate in Illustrator as vectors without having to start from scratch. is it possible to bring in a JPG or whtaver image file format, and have it trace the image in vectors?

[lark1000@adobeforums.com]

Im new to illustrator but i understand the purpose of it. I have images i created in Photoshop that i want to recreate in Illustrator as vectors without having to start from scratch. is it possible to bring in a JPG or whtaver image file format, and have it trace the image in vectors?

[Jonathan_McClintic@adobeforums.com]

Not really, but if you select the colors in Photoshop and save the selections out as Illustrator paths, then you can. You will loose all color information, but at least you will not have to draw it out again. A little tip, though, Start in Illustrator 1st, not the other way around.

Jonathan

[lark1000@adobeforums.com]

great, thanks! one more question thats a little simillar...

I remember once a while back making an image become the background in a very faded look, mainly to manually trace the object but not really to edit it or anything. it seems to be mainly for a guide. how do i set an image to do that?

[Timothy_Foolery®@adobeforums.com]

Place it in its own layer, lower its opacity and lock the layer.

[mike_verzella@adobeforums.com]

hmm.. i know in fireworks you can auto-postorize an image and it will trace the color shapes for you in one swoop.. =)

you can use streamline to take a color image and vector it.. however, it takes skill to accurately reproduce an image.. you'll have color loss, it will typically get an illustration feel to it.. but that's the best thing to do..

the nice thing about streamline is what it can do to scanned hand sketches.

[emerson_ringrose@adobeforums.com]

This is an area that I hope can be improved on. Other software packages provide 'trace bitmap' options contained in the programs.

two methods -

1. Buy Adobe streamline, it is the best bitmap to vector conversion I know (even better than flash's trace bitmap or corel draw's trace)
2. in photoshop, slect the colours one by one.
with each selected colour make a path (click the little circle with the upside down 'v' on it in the 'paths' pallette) and using the white arrow in the toolbar select the path, copy and paste your paths into illustratorone by one. Expand the appearance of these paths (they are large files as compound paths) and reconsrtuct your picture.

In all seriousness, just buy streamline.

[emerson_ringrose@adobeforums.com]

This is an area that I hope can be improved on. Other software packages provide 'trace bitmap' options contained in the programs.

two methods -

1. Buy Adobe streamline, it is the best bitmap to vector conversion I know (even better than flash's trace bitmap or corel draw's trace)
2. in photoshop, slect the colours one by one.
with each selected colour make a path (click the little circle with the upside down 'v' on it in the 'paths' pallette) and using the white arrow in the toolbar select the path, copy and paste your paths into illustratorone by one. Expand the appearance of these paths (they are large files as compound paths) and reconsrtuct your picture.

In all seriousness, just buy streamline.

[Timothy_Foolery®@adobeforums.com]

I wholheartedly disagree. Trace it manually for the best results.

[Timothy_Foolery®@adobeforums.com]

I wholheartedly disagree. Trace it manually for the best results.

[lark1000@adobeforums.com]

"Not really, but if you select the colors in Photoshop and save the selections out as Illustrator paths, then you can. You will loose all color information, but at least you will not have to draw it out again. A little tip, though, Start in Illustrator 1st, not the other way around."

Hey, im trying your technique since it seems to sound the easiest but im kinda confused. Im using the magic wand to select the item in photoshop but im getting lost at saving the selection out as an illustrator path. are you meaning "Save As"? if so, there is nothing that i see that seems like an Illustrator like file. could you clarify? I dont mind losing the color, i really just want the outline to work with. Thanks!

[Jonathan_McClintic@adobeforums.com]

You need to save the paths in the path menu. It is on the same menu as the layers. Use the side arrow to access the make work path, then when you have done this for all the seperate colors/shapes, then go to File->export-> paths to illustrator.

Hope that clearifies it for you, Lark

Jonathan