To edit Image Trace settings in Illustrator, select your source image and access the Image Trace panel, or quickly adjust settings via the Control or Properties panels. Here's a detailed breakdown:
1. Accessing Image Trace Settings:
-
Using the Image Trace Panel:
- Select the image you want to trace.
- Go to
Window > Image Trace. This will open the Image Trace panel, giving you access to all the adjustable settings.
-
Using the Control Panel:
- Select the image.
- In the Control panel (usually located at the top of the Illustrator window), locate the "Image Trace" option.
- Click the small menu icon (typically three horizontal lines or a downward-facing arrow) to the right of the "Trace" button. This allows you to select a preset or initiate the tracing process using default settings.
-
Using the Properties Panel:
- Select the image.
- Go to
Window > Propertiesif the Properties panel isn't already open. - Look for the "Image Trace" button within the panel. If your image is selected, this button will be visible.
- Click the "Image Trace" button. A menu will appear, allowing you to select a preset or start the tracing process.
2. Key Image Trace Settings to Adjust:
Once you have the Image Trace panel open, or after selecting "Image Trace Panel" from the Control/Properties menu, you'll find various settings to customize the tracing result. Here are some key areas:
-
Preset: Choose a preset (like "High Fidelity Photo," "Low Fidelity Photo," "3 Color Logo," "6 Color Logo," "Grayscale," or "Black and White Logo") as a starting point. This pre-configures the settings for specific types of images.
-
View: Controls how the tracing result is displayed (e.g., "Tracing Result," "Tracing Outline," "Outlines with Source Image," "Source Image").
-
Mode: Specifies the color mode for the tracing (e.g., "Color," "Grayscale," "Black and White").
-
Palette: Determines the color palette used. You can select from preset palettes or specify a custom palette.
-
Colors/Grays: Sets the number of colors or shades of gray used in the tracing. Lower values simplify the image, while higher values retain more detail.
-
Paths: Controls the accuracy of the paths generated. Lower values create simpler paths, while higher values create more accurate but complex paths.
-
Corners: Influences how sharp corners are handled. Lower values round corners, while higher values preserve sharp corners.
-
Noise: Specifies the minimum area (in pixels) that a feature must have to be included in the tracing. Increasing the noise value removes small, unwanted details.
-
Method: Determines how the tracing paths are created. Options are usually "Adjacent" and "Overlapping".
-
Options:
- Fill: Creates filled shapes for the traced objects.
- Strokes: Creates stroked paths for the traced objects.
- Expand: Convert the tracing to editable vector paths after tracing.
3. Editing After Tracing (Expanding):
-
Once you're satisfied with the Image Trace settings, click the "Expand" button in the Control panel or Properties panel. This converts the traced image into editable vector paths.
-
After expanding, you can use Illustrator's direct selection tool (white arrow) to select and modify individual paths, shapes, and colors.
Example:
Let's say you want to trace a complex photograph.
- Select the photo in Illustrator.
- Open the Image Trace panel (
Window > Image Trace). - Choose the "High Fidelity Photo" preset as a starting point.
- Adjust the "Colors" slider to control the number of colors used in the tracing. Increase it for more detail, decrease it for a simpler result.
- Experiment with the "Paths," "Corners," and "Noise" settings to refine the accuracy and cleanliness of the tracing.
- Click "Expand" to convert the tracing into editable vector paths.
- Use the direct selection tool to refine individual elements as needed.
By understanding these settings and experimenting with different values, you can effectively edit Image Trace settings in Illustrator to achieve the desired results for your vector artwork.
