Select File > Place, and then select the raster image to place it on the canvas.
- Illustrator User Guide
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Use Image Trace to convert raster images in formats like JPEG, PNG, and PSD into high-quality vector artwork.
With the Illustrator 29.0 release, you get Gradients, Shapes, Transparency, and Auto Grouping to trace images with more accuracy and control.
Trace an image
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Select the image on the canvas, and then select Window > Image Trace. The Image Trace panel opens.
Select Switch Workspace in the upper right corner of Illustrator, and then select Tracing to get a workspace optimized for Image Trace.
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In the panel, select a preset from the icon list at the top or from the Preset dropdown. The trace result appears in place of the image. The tracing speed depends on the image resolution.
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Adjust the tracing options in the panel to customize the result as required.
A. Source image B. Trace results using different presets
Trace an image quickly with limited tracing options
- To run Image Trace instantly using the Default preset, select the image, and then select Image Trace in the Contextual Task Bar.
- To run Image Trace using any tracing preset, select the image, and then select Image Trace in the Properties panel.
Even if you run Image Trace using any of these methods, you can later customize the result using the Image Trace panel.
Release the trace
To discard a trace and restore the source image, release it:
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Select the trace result.
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Select Object > Image Trace > Release.
Edit the trace result
To edit a trace result like any other vector object, you must expand it. Once expanded, you can't adjust the tracing options:
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Select the trace result on the canvas.
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Select Expand in the Image Trace panel. Expand converts the result into editable paths that are grouped.
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Edit the paths as required:
- Double-click the result to enter isolation mode to edit without ungrouping.
- Select Ungroup in the Contextual Task Bar to ungroup and edit.
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Select Object > Path > Simplify to remove excess anchor points, if necessary.
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Select the paths, and then select Object > Live Paint > Make to color them. The paths convert to Live Paint groups.
The Image Trace panel has basic and advanced tracing options to customize the result. These options are active only when you select an image.
Select one of the icons at the top of the panel to run a frequently used Image Trace workflow:
- Auto-Color : Creates a posterized image from a photo or artwork.
- High Color : Creates photorealistic artwork of high fidelity.
- Low Color : Creates simplified photorealistic artwork.
- Grayscale : Traces the artwork to gray shades.
- Black and White : Simplifies the image to black-and-white artwork.
- Outline : Simplifies the image to black outlines.
Check the Preset dropdown if you can't find a preset in the icon list.
View
Shows the trace result or the source image with or without outlines. Select Press & hold to view source image next to View to quickly compare the trace result with the source image.
Specifies a color mode for the trace result. The available options define basic color versus grayscale modes for your traced artwork.
- Color: When you set the Mode to Color, the Colors slider or the Colors dropdown appears based on the type of Palette you select. The Colors slider specifies the number of colors, and the Colors dropdown specifies the color group for a color trace result.
- Grayscale: When you set the Mode to Grayscale, the Grays slider appears. It specifies the amount of gray to be used in a grayscale trace result.
- Black and White: When you set the Mode to Black and White, the Threshold slider appears, letting you set a Threshold value for creating a black-and-white trace result. All pixels lighter than the value are converted to white, and all pixels darker than the value are converted to black.
Palette
Specifies a palette for generating a color tracing from the source image. This option is available only when you set the Mode to Color.
- Automatic: Automatically switches between the limited palette and full tone for the tracing, depending on the input image. When you select Automatic, you can adjust the Colors slider to alter vector simplicity and accuracy in the tracing. When it's set to 0, you get a simplified result at the expense of accuracy, while when it's set to 100, you get an accurate result at the expense of simplicity.
- Limited: Uses a small set of colors in the result. You can use the Color slider to reduce the number of colors you want in the result.
- Full Tone: Uses the entire set of colors in the result. This option is the best for tracing photos and creates a photorealistic artwork. With this option selected, the Color slider determines the variability of the pixels that comprise each fill region. When it's set to 100%, the variability is the least, resulting in more paths defined by smaller areas of color. On the other hand, when it's set to 0%, the fill areas are fewer and larger.
- Document Library: Uses an existing color group, allowing you to define the exact colors you want in the result. You can select any color library you created in the Swatches panel.
Advanced options
Select the arrow next to Advanced to get the advanced tracing options.
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.
For a high-resolution image, move the Noise slider to a higher value (for example, in the 20–50 range). For a low-resolution image, set it to a lower value (1–10).
Method
Specifies a method for tracing. You can select one of the following options:
- 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 trace result.
- Strokes: Creates stroked paths in the trace result. Specifies the maximum width of features in the source image that can be stroked. Features larger than the maximum width become outlined areas in the trace result.
- Gradients: Detects and traces linear gradients from the image if you set Mode to Color or Grayscale, and Palette to Automatic or Full Tone. Gradients work in Grayscale mode only if Palette is already set.
- Use the Smooth slider to adjust the gradient detection strength, with a higher value giving a smoother gradient.
- Use the Gradient tool to adjust the gradients in the trace result after you expand it.
Detects circles, squares, and rectangles in the image and traces them as live shapes for easy editing. It can only detect isolated, perfect circles and squares. It can also detect slightly rotated rectangles, but with less accuracy.
- 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. You can choose this option for geometric artwork or if shapes in your source image are slightly rotated.
- Transparency: Transparent background in the image won't be traced as white if you set the Mode to Color. If you set the Palette to Limited, select at least four colors using the Colors slider.
- Ignore Color: Ignores a specific color while tracing. Use the color picker to selectively ignore a color. This option isn't available if the Mode is set to Grayscale and the Method is set to Overlapping.
Info
Shows the number of Paths, Anchors, and Colors in the result.
Organizes the paths in the trace result into logical groups allowing you to edit easily. To see the groups in the Layers panel, you must select Expand.
Expand
Converts the result into editable paths to let you work on it like other vector objects.
Preview
Preview the result of current settings.
Trace
Traces the image based on the preset and options you select.
Save a tracing preset
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Select Window > Image Trace to open the Image Trace panel.
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Adjust the tracing options as required.
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Select Manage Presets , select Save as New Preset, then enter a name.
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To delete or rename the preset, select Manage Presets , then select Delete or Rename.
Note:You can’t edit or delete the default presets. They are shown within square brackets.
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