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Illustrator

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  1. Illustrator User Guide
  2. Get to know Illustrator
    1. Introduction to Illustrator
      1. What's new in Illustrator
      2. Common questions
      3. Illustrator system requirements
      4. Illustrator for Apple silicon
    2. Workspace
      1. Workspace basics
      2. Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
      3. Create documents
      4. Toolbar
      5. Default keyboard shortcuts
      6. Customize keyboard shortcuts
      7. Introduction to artboards
      8. Manage artboards
      9. Customize the workspace
      10. Properties panel
      11. Set preferences
      12. Touch Workspace
      13. Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
      14. Undo edits and manage design history
      15. Rotate view
      16. Rulers, grids, and guides
      17. Accessibility in Illustrator
      18. Safe Mode
      19. View artwork
      20. Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator
      21. Files and templates
    3. Tools in Illustrator
      1. Tools at a glance
      2. Select tools
        1. Selection
        2. Direct Selection
        3. Group Selection
        4. Magic Wand
        5. Lasso
        6. Artboard
      3. Navigate tools
        1. Hand
        2. Rotate View
        3. Zoom
      4. Paint tools
        1. Gradient
        2. Mesh
        3. Shape Builder
      5. Text tools
        1. Type
        2. Type on a Path
        3. Vertical Type
      6. Draw tools
        1. Pen
        2. Add Anchor Point
        3. Delete Anchor Point
        4. Anchor Point
        5. Curvature
        6. Line Segment
        7. Rectangle
        8. Rounded Rectangle
        9. Ellipse
        10. Polygon
        11. Star
        12. Paintbrush
        13. Blob Brush
        14. Pencil
        15. Shaper
        16. Slice
      7. Modify tools
        1. Rotate
        2. Reflect
        3. Scale
        4. Shear
        5. Width
        6. Free Transform
        7. Eyedropper
        8. Blend
        9. Eraser
        10. Scissors
        11. Dimension
    4. Generative AI (not available in mainland China)
      1. Generate scenes, subjects, and icons using text prompts
      2. Generate vector patterns using text prompts
      3. Generate vector shape fills using text prompts
      4. Recolor your artwork using text prompts
    5. Quick actions
      1. Retro text
      2. Neon glow text
      3. Old school text
      4. Recolor
      5. Convert sketch to vector
  3. Illustrator on the web (beta)
    1. Illustrator on the web (beta) overview
    2. Illustrator on the web (beta) FAQ
    3. Troubleshooting issues FAQ
    4. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the web (beta)
    5. Create and combine shapes on the web
    6. Add and edit text on the web
    7. Apply colors and gradients on the web
    8. Draw and edit paths on the web
    9. Work with cloud documents on the web
    10. Invite collaborators to edit on the web
  4. Illustrator on the iPad
    1. Introduction to Illustrator on the iPad
      1. Illustrator on the iPad overview
      2. Illustrator on the iPad FAQs
      3. System requirements | Illustrator on the iPad
      4. What you can or cannot do on Illustrator on the iPad
    2. Workspace
      1. Illustrator on the iPad workspace
      2. Touch shortcuts and gestures
      3. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the iPad
      4. Manage your app settings
    3. Documents
      1. Work with documents in Illustrator on the iPad
      2. Import Photoshop and Fresco documents
    4. Select and arrange objects
      1. Create repeat objects
      2. Blend objects
    5. Drawing
      1. Draw and edit paths
      2. Draw and edit shapes
    6. Type
      1. Work with type and fonts
      2. Create text designs along a path
      3. Add your own fonts
    7. Work with images
      1. Vectorize raster images
    8. Color
      1. Apply colors and gradients
  5. Cloud documents
    1. Basics
      1. Work with Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Share and collaborate on Illustrator cloud documents
      3. Share documents for review
      4. Upgrade cloud storage for Adobe Illustrator
      5. Illustrator cloud documents | Common questions
    2. Troubleshooting
      1. Troubleshoot create or save issues for Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Troubleshoot Illustrator cloud documents issues
  6. Add and edit content
    1. Drawing and dimensioning
      1. Drawing basics
      2. Edit paths
      3. Draw pixel-perfect art
      4. Draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool
      5. Draw simple lines and shapes
      6. Draw rectangular and polar grids
      7. Draw and edit flares
      8. Image Trace
      9. Simplify a path
      10. Symbolism tools and symbol sets
      11. Adjust path segments
      12. Design a flower in 5 easy steps
      13. Create and edit a perspective grid
      14. Draw and modify objects on a perspective grid
      15. Use objects as symbols for repeat use
      16. Draw pixel-aligned paths for web workflows
      17. Measure and plot dimensions
    2. 3D objects and materials
      1. About 3D effects in Illustrator
      2. Create 3D graphics
      3. Map artwork over 3D objects
      4. Create 3D Text
      5. Create 3D objects
    3. Color
      1. About color
      2. Select colors
      3. Use and create swatches
      4. Adjust colors
      5. Use the Adobe Color Themes panel
      6. Color groups (harmonies)
      7. Color Themes panel
      8. Recolor your artwork
    4. Painting
      1. About painting
      2. Paint with fills and strokes
      3. Live Paint groups
      4. Gradients
      5. Brushes
      6. Transparency and blending modes
      7. Apply stroke on an object
      8. Create and edit patterns
      9. Meshes
      10. Patterns
    5. Select and arrange objects
      1. Select objects
      2. Layers
      3. Group and expand objects
      4. Move, align, and distribute objects
      5. Snap objects to glyph
      6. Snap objects to Japanese glyph
      7. Stack objects    
      8. Lock, hide, and delete objects
      9. Copy and duplicate objects
      10. Rotate and reflect objects
      11. Intertwine objects
      12. Create realistic art mockups
    6. Reshape objects
      1. Crop images
      2. Transform objects
      3. Combine objects
      4. Cut, divide, and trim objects
      5. Puppet Warp
      6. Scale, shear, and distort objects
      7. Blend objects
      8. Reshape using envelopes
      9. Reshape objects with effects
      10. Build new shapes with Shaper and Shape Builder tools
      11. Work with Live Corners
      12. Enhanced reshape workflows with touch support
      13. Edit clipping masks
      14. Live shapes
      15. Create shapes using the Shape Builder tool
      16. Global editing
    7. Type
      1. Add text and work with type objects
      2. Create bulleted and numbered lists
      3. Manage text area
      4. Fonts and typography
      5. Convert text within images into editable text
      6. Add basic formatting to text
      7. Add advanced formatting to text
      8. Import and export text
      9. Format paragraphs
      10. Special characters
      11. Create type on a path
      12. Character and paragraph styles
      13. Tabs
      14. Find missing fonts (Typekit workflow)
      15. Arabic and Hebrew type
      16. Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
      17. Create 3D text effect
      18. Creative typography designs
      19. Scale and rotate type
      20. Line and character spacing
      21. Hyphenation and line breaks
      22. Spelling and language dictionaries
      23. Format Asian characters
      24. Composers for Asian scripts
      25. Create text designs with blend objects
      26. Create a text poster using Image Trace
    8. Create special effects
      1. Work with effects
      2. Graphic styles
      3. Appearance attributes
      4. Create sketches and mosaics
      5. Drop shadows, glows, and feathering
      6. Summary of effects
    9. Web graphics
      1. Best practices for creating web graphics
      2. Graphs
      3. SVG
      4. Slices and image maps
  7. Import, export, and save
    1. Import
      1. Place multiple files
      2. Manage linked and embedded files
      3. Links information
      4. Unembed images
      5. Import artwork from Photoshop
      6. Import bitmap images
      7. Import Adobe PDF files
      8. Import EPS, DCS, and AutoCAD files
    2. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator 
      1. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
    3. Save and export
      1. Save artwork
      2. Export artwork
      3. Create Adobe PDF files
      4. Adobe PDF options
      5. Use Illustrator artwork in Photoshop
      6. Collect assets and export in batches
      7. Package files
      8. Extract CSS | Illustrator CC
      9. Document info panel
  8. Printing
    1. Prepare for printing
      1. Set up documents for printing
      2. Change the page size and orientation
      3. Specify crop marks for trimming or aligning
      4. Get started with large canvas
    2. Printing
      1. Overprint
      2. Print with color management
      3. PostScript printing
      4. Print presets
      5. Printer's marks and bleeds
      6. Print and save transparent artwork
      7. Trapping
      8. Print color separations
      9. Print gradients, meshes, and color blends
      10. White Overprint
  9. Automate tasks
    1. Data merge using the Variables panel
    2. Automation with scripts
    3. Automation with actions
  10. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed issues
    2. Known issues
    3. Crash issues
    4. Recover files after crash
    5. File issues
    6. Supported file formats
    7. GPU device driver issues
    8. Wacom device issues
    9. DLL file issues
    10. Memory issues
    11. Preferences file issues
    12. Font issues
    13. Printer issues
    14. Share crash report with Adobe
    15. Improve Illustrator performance

Image Trace lets you convert raster images (JPEG, PNG, PSD etc.) to vector artwork. Using this feature, you can easily base a new drawing on an existing piece of artwork by tracing it. For example, you can convert the image of a pencil sketch you've drawn on paper into vector artwork using Image Trace. You can choose from a set of tracing presets to get the desired result quickly.

Before and after tracing a raster image using tracing presets

A. Original image B. Tracing results using different presets 

Trace an image

Try it in-app!

Turn a hand-drawn sketch into vector artwork instantly in Illustrator.

Convert sketch to vector

  1. Open or place a raster image in your Illustrator document.

  2. With the placed image selected, do one of the following:

    • Choose Object > Image Trace > Make to trace with default parameters. Illustrator converts the image to black and white tracing result by default.
    • Click the Image Trace button in the Control panel or the Properties panel, or select a preset from the Tracing Presets button ().
    • Choose Window > Image Trace or switch to the Tracing workspace to open the Image Trace panel, and do one of the following:
    Note:
    • In the Image Trace panel, enable Preview to see the results of your modifications. 
    • The resolution of your placed image determines the speed of the tracing.

  3. (Optional) Adjust the results of the tracing in the Image Trace panel (Window > Image Trace).

  4. To convert the tracing object to paths and to manually editing the vector artwork, choose Object > Image Trace > Expand.

For a video on tracing, see this how-to video on Image Trace.

Specify tracing options

When the image is selected, you can see that the options in the Image Trace panel become available. At the top of the panel are the basic options; you can expose additional options by turning the triangle next to the Advanced label.

Basic controls

Image Trace panel showing the tracing options
Customize the options in the Image Trace panel to get the desired tracing result.

Preset

The Image Trace panel lets you select a preset for your image. The icons located across the top of the panel are presets named according to popular workflows. 

Examples of tracing presets available in Image Trace panel

Icon

Name of the preset

Definition

Auto-Color

Creates a posterized image from photo or artwork

High Color

Creates photorealistic artwork of high fidelity

Low Color

Creates simplified photorealistic artwork

Grayscale

Traces the artwork to shades of gray

Black And White

Simplifies the image to black-and-white artwork

Outline

Simplifies the image to black outlines

Additional presets are accessible in the top drop-down menu.

Examples of tracing presets available in the Preset drop-down menu.

A. 3 Colors B. 6 Colors C. High Fidelity Photo 

Click the menu icon () to save the current settings as a new preset, or to delete or rename existing presets. For details, see Save a tracing preset.

View

Specifies the view of the traced object. A tracing object is made up of two components: the original source image and the tracing result (which is the vector artwork). You can choose to view the tracing result, source image, outlines, and other options. You can click the eye icon to overlay the selected view over the source image.

Choose a view of the traced object
Choose a view of the traced object

A. Tracing Result B. Tracing Result With Outlines C. Outlines D. Outlines With Source Image E. Source Image 

Mode

Specifies a color mode for the tracing result. The available options define basic color versus grayscale modes for your traced artwork.

The following color settings appear based on the settings in the Mode option:

Specifies the number of colors to use in a color tracing result. If you have selected Document Library as the palette, you can choose a swatch. (This option is available only when Mode is set to Color.)

Adjust the number of colors in the tracing result when Mode is set to Color.

Specifies the number of grays to use in a grayscale tracing result. (This option is available only when Mode is set to Grayscale.)

Adjust the number of grays in the tracing result when Mode is set to Grayscale.

Specifies a value for generating a black and white tracing result from the original image. All pixels lighter than the Threshold value are converted to white; all pixels darker than the Threshold value are converted to black. (This option is available only when Mode is set to Black And White.)

Adjust the threshold value to convert the pixels to black or white in the tracing result when Mode is set to Black And White.

Palette

Specifies a palette for generating a color or grayscale tracing from the original image. (This option is available only when Mode is set to Color or Grayscale.)

You can choose one of the following options:

Automatically switches between the limited palette and full tone for the tracing, depending on the input image. When you select Automatic for your palette, you can adjust the Colors slider to alter vector simplicity and accuracy in the tracing. The value 0 means simplified at the expense of accuracy and the value 100 means accurate or photorealistic at the expense of simplicity.

Example: Tracing result when you choose Automatic

Uses a small set of colors for the tracing palette. You can use the Color slider to further reduce the colors selected.

Example: Tracing result when you choose Limited

Uses the entire set of colors for the tracing palette. This option is the best for tracing photos and creates photorealistic artwork. With this option selected, the Color slider determines the variability of the pixels that make up each of the fill regions. When the Color slider is to the right, the variability is smaller, resulting in more paths defined by smaller areas of color. On the other hand, when the slider is to the left, the fill areas are fewer and larger.

Example: Tracing result when you choose Full Tone

Uses an existing color group for the tracing palette. This option allows you to define the exact colors you want in your traced artwork. You can choose any color library you’ve loaded via the Swatches panel for your tracing palette.

Example: Tracing result when you choose Document Library

Add color libraries to the Swatches panel from the Swatch Libraries menu

  1. To open the Swatches panel, choose Window > Swatches.
  2. Click the Swatch Libraries Menu icon () on the lower-left of the Swatches panel. Alternatively, choose Open Swatch Library from the panel menu.
  3. Choose a library from the list.
  4. To add the desired color group to the Swatches panel, click the Save Color Group To Swatches Panel button (). For details, see Use swatch libraries.
Add color libraries to the Swatches panel from the Swatch Libraries menu.

Choose any color library you’ve loaded via the Swatches panel for your tracing palette.

Add color libraries to the Swatches panel using the Adobe Color Themes panel

  1. To open the Adobe Color Themes panel, choose Window > Color Themes.
  2. Explore the many public color themes available in the Explore tab or create your own color themes. Then, add the selected color theme to the Swatches panel. For details, see Use the Adobe Color Themes panel.
Add color libraries to the Swatches panel from the Adobe Color Themes panel.

Choose any color library you’ve loaded via the Adobe Color Themes panel for your tracing palette.

Advanced controls

Paths

Controls the distance between the traced shape and the original pixel shape. Lower values create a looser path fitting; higher values create a tighter path fitting.

Corners

Specifies the emphasis on corners and the likeliness that a sharp bend will turn into a corner point. A higher value results in more corners.

Noise

Specifies an area in pixels that is ignored while tracing. A higher value results in less noise.

Tip: For a high-resolution image, move the Noise slider to a higher value (for example in the 20–50 range) to have some effect. For a low-resolution image, set it lower (1–10).

Simplify

Simplifies the image by reducing the number of anchor points. This option isn't available with Overlapping method.

Method

Specifies a method for tracing. You can choose one of the following options:

Icon

Name of the preset

Definition

Abutting

Creates cutout paths. The edge of one path is exactly the same as the edge of its neighboring path.

Overlapping

Creates stacked paths. Each path slightly overlaps its neighbor.

Fills

Creates filled regions in the tracing result.

Strokes

Creates stroked paths in the tracing result.

Stroke

Specifies the maximum width of features in the original image that can be stroked. Features larger than the maximum width become outlined areas in the tracing result.

Snap Curves To Lines

Specifies if slightly curved lines are replaced with straight lines and if lines near to 0 or 90 degrees are snapped to absolute 0 or 90 degrees.

Tip: You can choose this option for geometric artwork or if shapes in your source image are slightly rotated.

Ignore Color

Ignores a specific color while tracing. Use the color picker to selectively ignore a color. This option isn't available with Grayscale mode and Overlapping method.

For a video on tracing, see this how-to video on Image Trace.

Save a tracing preset

  1. Open the Image Trace panel by choosing Window > Image Trace.

  2. Set tracing options for the preset using the Image Trace panel.

    Note:

    You can’t edit or delete the default presets (default presets appear in brackets [ ] ). However, you can make an editable copy of a default preset by selecting the preset and choosing Save As New Preset from the panel menu.

  3. Click the menu icon () and choose Save As New Preset.

  4. Enter a name for the  preset , and click OK.

  5. (Optional) To rename your saved preset, click the menu icon () and choose Rename. Enter a name for the  preset , and click OK.

  6. (Optional) To delete your saved preset, click the menu icon () and choose Delete.

Edit the tracing result

When you are satisfied with the results of a tracing, you can convert the tracing object to paths. This final step allows you to work with the tracing result as you do other vector artwork. Once you convert the tracing object, you can no longer adjust the tracing options.

  1. Select the tracing result.

  2. To convert the tracing result to paths, do one of the following:

    • Click Expand in the Control panel or the Properties panel.
    • Choose Object > Image Trace > Expand. 

    The resulting paths are grouped together.

  3. To ungroup the grouped paths, click Ungroup in the Properties panel. Alternatively, choose Object > Ungroup.

  4. (Optional) To simplify paths by removing excess anchor points, choose Object > Path > Simplify. For details, see Simplify a path. 

    You can also reshape or edit paths. For details, see Adjust path segments.

  5. To color your tracing result, convert it to Live Paint Groups by selecting the desired paths and choosing Object > Live Paint > Make. For details, see Live Paint groups.

     

Release a tracing object

To discard a tracing but keep the original placed image, release the tracing object.

  1. Select the tracing object.

  2. Choose Object > Image Trace > Release.

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