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Convert images to vector using Image Trace

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Illustrator

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. Create documents
      3. Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
      4. Accelerate workflows using the Contextual Task Bar
      5. Toolbar
      6. Default keyboard shortcuts
      7. Customize keyboard shortcuts
      8. Introduction to artboards
      9. Manage artboards
      10. Customize the workspace
      11. Properties panel
      12. Set preferences
      13. Touch Workspace
      14. Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
      15. Undo edits and manage design history
      16. Rotate view
      17. Rulers, grids, and guides
      18. Accessibility in Illustrator
      19. Safe Mode
      20. View artwork
      21. Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator
      22. 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
      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. Trace images
      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
    2. Measurement
      1. Measure and plot dimensions
    3. 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
    4. 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
    5. 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
    6. Select and arrange objects
      1. Select objects
      2. Layers
      3. Group and expand objects
      4. Move, align, and distribute objects
      5. Align, arrange, and move objects on a path
      6. Snap objects to glyph
      7. Snap objects to Japanese glyph
      8. Stack objects    
      9. Lock, hide, and delete objects
      10. Copy and duplicate objects
      11. Rotate and reflect objects
      12. Intertwine objects
      13. Create realistic art mockups
    7. 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
    8. Type
      1. Add text and work with type objects
      2. Reflow Viewer
      3. Create bulleted and numbered lists
      4. Manage text area
      5. Fonts and typography
      6. Convert text within images into editable text
      7. Add basic formatting to text
      8. Add advanced formatting to text
      9. Import and export text
      10. Format paragraphs
      11. Special characters
      12. Create type on a path
      13. Character and paragraph styles
      14. Tabs
      15. Find missing fonts (Typekit workflow)
      16. Arabic and Hebrew type
      17. Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
      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
    9. 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
    10. 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

Use Image Trace to convert raster images in formats like JPEG, PNG, and PSD into high-quality vector artwork.

Adobe Illustrator deeplink

Try it in the app
Trace an image in a few simple steps.

Open Illustrator
Note:

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

  1. Select File > Place, and then select the raster image to place it on the canvas.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Adjust the tracing options in the panel to customize the result as required.

On the left is an image of the bird before tracing, and on the right are four trace results using different presets.
Use a preset for your specific tracing requirement.

A. Source image B. Trace results using different presets 

Trace an image quickly with limited tracing options

You can run Image Trace with varying levels of speed and control without the customization options provided by the Image Trace panel:
  • 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:

  1. Select the trace result.

  2. 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:

  1. Select the trace result on the canvas.

  2. Select Expand in the Image Trace panel. Expand converts the result into editable paths that are grouped.

  3. 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.

  4. Select Object > Path > Simplify to remove excess anchor points, if necessary.

  5. Select the paths, and then select Object > Live Paint > Make to color them. The paths convert to Live Paint groups.

Image Trace panel options

The Image Trace panel has basic and advanced tracing options to customize the result. These options are active only when you select an image.

Preset

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.

Mode

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.

You can select one of the following options:
  • 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.

Tip:

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.

Create

  • 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.

Shapes

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.

Options

  • 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.

Auto Grouping

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

  1. Select Window > Image Trace to open the Image Trace panel.

  2. Adjust the tracing options as required.

  3. Select Manage Presets   , then select Save as New Preset, and enter a name.

  4. To delete or rename the preset, select Manage Presets   , and 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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