How to Vectorize an Image in Illustrator | Updated for 2024

Bring Your Own Laptop
19 Jan 202412:37

TLDRIn this tutorial, Dan Scott, an Adobe-certified instructor, demonstrates how to vectorize an image in Adobe Illustrator with a simple one-click process using Image Trace, formerly known as Live Trace. He then introduces his three-step vectorizing system for a more detailed and artistic result. The steps include removing the background in Photoshop, adjusting Image Trace settings for detail and color, and smoothing the vector paths for a cleaner look. Additionally, Scott shares a trick for selecting and applying colors from other images or designs, effectively 'stealing' color schemes to enhance one's work. The video concludes with a challenge for viewers to vectorize an object from their desk and share their creations on social media using the hashtag #BVector.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 **Vectorizing with Adobe Illustrator**: You can vectorize an image with just one click using the Image Trace feature, previously known as Live Trace.
  • 🖍️ **Customizing Trace Settings**: You can adjust the number of colors and other settings in the Trace Panel for more detailed or simplified vector results.
  • 🔍 **Detail Level**: Depending on the image, you might need to play with the detail level by changing the number of colors to get the desired vector outcome.
  • 🖱️ **Background Removal**: To clean up the image, remove the background using Photoshop's Select Subject feature before importing it into Illustrator.
  • 📂 **Exporting from Photoshop**: After background removal, export the image as a PNG with a transparent background to use in Illustrator.
  • 🌈 **Advanced Trace Options**: Use the Advanced options in Image Trace to ignore certain colors, adjust detail levels, and control corner rounding for a more refined look.
  • 🔧 **Expanding Vectors**: After vectorizing, use the Expand function to break the image into editable vector paths, allowing for further manipulation.
  • 🧹 **Smoothing the Vectors**: Use the Smooth function to clean up and simplify the vector paths, reducing 'scratchiness' and creating a smoother illustration.
  • 🎨 **Coloring Genius**: To select colors like a pro,借鉴 (borrow) color schemes from other artwork found on platforms like Dribbble, using the Eye Dropper tool for seamless color integration.
  • 🔢 **Efficient Color Editing**: Use the 'Select > Same Fill Color All' command to quickly apply new colors across all elements of the same fill within the document.
  • 📈 **Continued Learning**: The presenter encourages viewers to practice the vectorizing process and share their work on social media using the hashtag #BVector for feedback and community interaction.

Q & A

  • What is the first step to vectorize an image in Adobe Illustrator?

    -The first step is to use the 'Image Trace' feature, which was previously known as 'Live Trace'. You can access this by clicking on the image and then selecting 'Image Trace'.

  • How can you adjust the number of colors used in the vectorization process?

    -You can adjust the number of colors by opening the 'Tracing Panel' and modifying the settings. You can choose different presets or manually set the number of colors to achieve the desired level of detail.

  • What is Dan Scott's Super Famous three-step vectorizing system process?

    -Dan Scott's three-step vectorizing system process involves: 1) Removing the background using Photoshop, 2) Using 'Image Trace' with advanced options like ignoring the background color and adjusting detail levels, and 3) Applying smoothing to the vectorized image for a more illustrative look.

  • How do you remove the background of an image in Photoshop?

    -In Photoshop, you can use the 'Select Subject' feature to quickly select the main object and remove the background. After making the selection, you can add a mask to the layer and then export the image as a PNG with a transparent background.

  • What is the 'Expand' option in Illustrator used for after vectorization?

    -The 'Expand' option in Illustrator is used to break the vectorized image into editable vectors. This allows you to use the Direct Selection Tool to adjust and move around the individual elements of the vectorized image.

  • How can you simplify the vectorized image in Illustrator?

    -You can simplify the vectorized image by going to 'Object' > 'Path' and selecting 'Simplify'. This will reduce the number of anchor points and make the image less detailed.

  • What is the 'Smooth' option in Illustrator and how does it affect the image?

    -The 'Smooth' option in Illustrator is found under 'Object' > 'Path'. It is used to smooth out the vectorized image by reducing the 'scratchiness' and creating a more streamlined appearance.

  • How does Dan Scott select and apply colors to his vectorized images?

    -Dan Scott uses a method of color theft where he finds color schemes on platforms like Dribbble or Behance that he likes. He then uses the Eye Dropper Tool in Illustrator to sample and apply these colors to his vectorized images.

  • What is the shortcut in Illustrator to select all elements with the same fill color?

    -The shortcut to select all elements with the same fill color in Illustrator is to first select an element with the desired color, then go to 'Select' > 'Same' > 'Fill Color'.

  • What is the bonus tip shared by Dan Scott for enhancing the colors of a vectorized image?

    -The bonus tip is to use generative AI features for recoloring, which can be found in Dan Scott's paid course 'Illustrator Essentials and Advance'. This technique can help create unique and artistic color schemes for the vectorized images.

  • What is the assignment given by Dan Scott at the end of the video?

    -Dan Scott challenges viewers to find an object around their desk or online, vectorize it using the three-step method he taught, and share their work on social media with the hashtag #BVector.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Vectorizing Images in Adobe Illustrator

The video begins with an introduction to vectorizing images using Adobe Illustrator. The presenter, Dan Scott, an Adobe-certified instructor, explains the process of vectorizing an image with a single click using the Image Trace feature, previously known as Live Trace. He demonstrates how to adjust the number of colors in the trace and refine the details. Dan also introduces his 'Super Famous three-step vectorizing system process' for enhancing the vector design. The video includes a music segment and a mention of exercise files for practice, with a link provided in the description. The process involves importing an image, using Image Trace with customizable presets, and making adjustments in the tracing panel for optimal results.

05:01

🖼️ Refining Vector Art and Background Removal

Dan Scott continues the tutorial by focusing on refining vector art and removing backgrounds. He uses Photoshop to select the subject of an image and remove the background, then exports it as a PNG to be used in Illustrator. The video shows how to tidy up selections and use a mask to keep the desired image parts while discarding the background. Once the background is removed, Dan revisits Image Trace, this time using advanced options to ignore certain colors and adjust the vector details. He also discusses the possibility of further simplifying the image using the 'Simplify' option in Illustrator for a cleaner look.

10:01

🌈 Advanced Vector Techniques and Color Selection

The final paragraph covers advanced vector techniques and the importance of color selection in the design process. Dan introduces the 'Expand' feature to break down traced images into editable vectors. He then discusses the 'Smooth' function to refine the vector shapes and create a less 'Illustrator-like' and more artistic look. The video also touches on the process of selecting colors, where Dan confesses to 'stealing' color schemes from other artists' work found on platforms like Dribbble. He shares a trick for quickly applying colors to vector art using the Eye Dropper tool and selecting similar fill colors across the document. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to practice vectorizing an object from their desk and share their work on social media using a specific hashtag.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Vectorize

Vectorize refers to the process of converting a raster image into a vector image. In the context of the video, vectorization is the main theme as it describes the transformation of a photo into a scalable, editable format using Adobe Illustrator. The script mentions 'Image Trace' as the feature used for this purpose, with options to adjust colors and detail levels to achieve the desired vector outcome.

💡Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editing software used for creating logos, icons, typography, and other vector art. The video script discusses how to use this software to vectorize images, emphasizing its 'Image Trace' feature for converting raster images to vector format, which is central to the video's instructional content.

💡Image Trace

Image Trace, formerly known as Live Trace, is a feature in Adobe Illustrator that automates the conversion of raster images into vector graphics. The script explains how to use this feature by selecting an image and applying the Image Trace function with various preset options or custom color settings to achieve the vectorization.

💡Preset

A preset in the context of Adobe Illustrator's Image Trace feature refers to a set of predefined parameters that dictate how the image will be vectorized. The video mentions choosing different presets, such as 'six colors' or 'three colors,' to determine the complexity and detail of the resulting vector image.

💡Tracing Panel

The Tracing Panel in Adobe Illustrator is a tool that provides more detailed control over the vectorization process. The script describes opening this panel to adjust settings like the number of colors and other options to refine the vector image, which is crucial for achieving the desired level of detail and accuracy.

💡Black and White

In the script, 'Black and White' is used to describe a type of preset in the Image Trace feature that simplifies the image to two colors, which can be useful for certain design purposes. It's an example of how the vectorization process can be tailored to specific needs.

💡Threshold

Threshold is a term used in the context of image processing to refer to the level at which an image is converted from grayscale to black and white. In the video, adjusting the threshold in the Image Trace feature determines what parts of the image will be included or excluded in the vectorization process.

💡Photoshop

Photoshop is a raster graphics editing software by Adobe, often used for photo manipulation and design. The script mentions using Photoshop to remove the background of an image before importing it into Illustrator for vectorization, which is a common workflow in graphic design.

💡PNG

PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics and is a file format used for images with transparent backgrounds. The video script discusses exporting images as PNGs from Photoshop to ensure that the background is transparent when the image is imported into Illustrator for further editing.

💡Smooth

Smooth is a term used in the video to describe a process in Illustrator that simplifies and refines vector paths, making them smoother and less 'scratchy.' It's part of the three-step vectorizing system process mentioned by the instructor to enhance the visual appeal of the vectorized image.

💡Color Genius

The term 'Color Genius' is used in a humorous context in the video to describe the instructor's method of selecting colors for the vector images. It refers to the process of finding color schemes from other sources, such as design websites, and applying them to the vectorized images to enhance their visual impact.

Highlights

Introduction to vectorizing images in Adobe Illustrator with a one-click process.

Dan Scott's Super Famous three-step vectorizing system for enhancing vector designs.

Using the Image Trace feature, formerly known as Live Trace, for initial vectorization.

Adjusting the number of colors in the Image Trace to control detail levels.

The importance of selecting the right number of colors for different images.

Exploring the Black and White preset in Image Trace for different results.

Removing the background in Photoshop before vectorizing for a cleaner look.

Using the 'Select Subject' feature in Photoshop for easy background removal.

Exporting images from Photoshop as PNGs with transparent backgrounds.

Applying Image Trace to images with transparent backgrounds for detailed vectorization.

Using the 'ignore this color' option in Image Trace to remove background colors.

Adjusting advanced options like passes, corners, and simplify in Image Trace.

Expanding vector shapes to edit and adjust them manually.

The use of the Smooth function in Illustrator to refine vector outlines.

Simplifying and smoothing vector shapes for a more abstract illustration style.

Becoming a 'color genius' by appropriating colors from other sources.

Using online platforms like Dribbble and Behance for color inspiration.

A trick to quickly apply new colors to vector shapes using the Eye Dropper tool.

The final result of vectorized images with no background and cool colors.

An invitation to practice the vectorizing skills with a personal object.

Encouragement to share the vectorized results on social media with the hashtag #BVector.

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