Open or place a raster image in your Illustrator document.
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.
A. Original image B. Tracing results using different presets
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Turn a hand-drawn sketch into vector artwork instantly in Illustrator.
Open or place a raster image in your Illustrator document.
With the placed image selected, do one of the following:
(Optional) Adjust the results of the tracing in the Image Trace panel (Window > Image Trace).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A. Tracing Result B. Tracing Result With Outlines C. Outlines D. Outlines With Source Image E. Source Image
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.)
Specifies the number of grays to use in a grayscale tracing result. (This option is available only 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.)
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.
Uses a small set of colors for the tracing palette. You can use the Color slider to further reduce the colors selected.
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.
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.
Add color libraries to the Swatches panel from the Swatch Libraries menu
Add color libraries to the Swatches panel using the Adobe Color Themes panel
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.
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.
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).
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. |
Creates filled regions in the tracing result.
Creates stroked paths in the tracing result.
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.
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.
Specifies if white fills areas are replaced with no fills.
For a video on tracing, see this how-to video on Image Trace.
Open the Image Trace panel by choosing Window > Image Trace.
Set tracing options for the preset using the Image Trace panel.
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.
Click the menu icon () and choose Save As New Preset.
Enter a name for the preset , and click OK.
(Optional) To rename your saved preset, click the menu icon () and choose Rename. Enter a name for the preset , and click OK.
(Optional) To delete your saved preset, click the menu icon () and choose Delete.
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.
Select the tracing result.
To convert the tracing result to paths, do one of the following:
The resulting paths are grouped together.
To ungroup the grouped paths, click Ungroup in the Properties panel. Alternatively, choose Object > Ungroup.
(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.
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.
To discard a tracing but keep the original placed image, release the tracing object.
Select the tracing object.
Choose Object > Image Trace > Release.
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