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How to Convert Raster Image to Vector in Illustrator?

Published in Image Conversion 3 mins read

Converting a raster image to a vector in Adobe Illustrator is a straightforward process involving the Image Trace tool. Here's how you can do it:

Steps to Convert Raster to Vector

Here is a step-by-step process to convert your raster image (like a JPG or PNG) into a vector image using Illustrator:

  1. Open your raster file:

    • Start by launching Adobe Illustrator.
    • Go to File > Open.
    • Browse to select the raster image you wish to convert.
    • Click Open to import the image into Illustrator.

  2. Use the Image Trace tool:

    • Select the imported image.
    • Navigate to the Object menu, then select Image Trace and choose a tracing preset, or click Make. For more control, select Image Trace Panel to customize your trace.
    • Illustrator will process the image, converting it into vector paths based on the settings you chose.

  3. Adjust Image Trace Settings (Optional):

    • The Image Trace Panel allows fine-tuning of the conversion process.
    • You can experiment with options like:
      • Mode: Adjusts the type of trace (e.g., Color, Grayscale, Black and White).
      • Paths: Affects the complexity and detail of the generated paths.
      • Corners: Controls how corners are handled in the trace.
      • Noise: Filters out unwanted details or speckles.
      • Ignore White: useful to create transparent backgrounds in your vector
    • Continue tweaking until you achieve the desired results.

  4. Expand the Trace:

    • After tracing and adjusting the image to your liking, with the trace selected, click the Expand button on the top menu.
    • This converts the trace into editable vector paths, which allows you to directly manipulate the artwork as vector shapes, rather than as a tracing object.

  5. Remove interior geometry and negative space

    • Use the Direct Selection tool to refine and remove unwanted paths or anchor points.
    • You may need to simplify complex paths to clean up the vector image.

  6. View your image in Outline mode:

    • To see the actual vector paths, switch to Outline view by going to View > Outline.
    • This will show the underlying vector structure without fill or stroke.

  7. Simplify vector paths:

    • After expanding, you may need to simplify complex paths. Go to Object > Path > Simplify to remove unnecesary points, making the design cleaner.

Best Practices

  • Start with High-Quality Raster Images: The better the source image quality, the better the vector result.
  • Experiment with Trace Presets: Begin with Illustrator's pre-defined trace settings, or customize a trace setting to best match the image being vectorized.
  • Refine Manually: After tracing, you may still need to manually adjust the paths using Illustrator's tools for precision.

By following these steps, you can effectively convert a raster image into a fully editable vector graphic in Adobe Illustrator.

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