Convert the drawing into a graphic image. Converting a raster image to a vector image using Adobe Illustrator

You can use ready-made templates for T-shirts, but I want to keep up with the times and make popular new items that appear in online stores.

To convert a raster image to a vector image, you will need to take 3 steps.

1) Find a suitable raster image.
2) Convert the raster image to vector.
3) Edit a vector image.

On one of the sites selling T-shirts, in the popular section, I found an image that interested me:

Now you need to go to search engine(I use Google), and make the appropriate request (polite people T-shirt). Go to the pictures tab - search tools - size, set it to large, if you don’t find anything, set it to medium. The more and better quality will be a raster image, the easier it will be to convert it to vector.

Download the image you like and open it in Corel Drive. Right-click on the image and select outline tracing - high quality image...

In the settings, move the “detail” slider as far to the right as possible, but so that the image remains one color. Let me explain, this image is black, but if you move the slider all the way to the right, the cat will split into two colors, black and a slightly lighter black.

In this case, the colors will not differ by eye, but you will see stripes between the colors. We set the anti-aliasing so that the vector image is not very angular, but not very rounded. Looking for golden mean. After all the manipulations, click OK.

Now select our vector image, right-click on it, and select cancel grouping completely.

Next we need to remove the excess, in in this case This white. He hides inside objects, for example in the letter “Y”, and in a cat between its paws. We remove all the white color and our vector image is ready for plotter cutting.

Often there is a need to convert a raster image to a vector image. This can be done using CorelDraw and others special programs. However, it will be much easier and more convenient to use online service, for example, such as the hero of our today's review.

How raster to vector conversion works

Vector graphics are a set of curves, points, lines that are represented mathematical expressions. Raster graphics is a set of pixels with color and brightness values. Online converter finds areas with the same brightness and color parameters and represents them as lines, curves and circles.

As a result, a raster image of SVG format can be infinitely enlarged without loss of quality.

Converting raster to vector

The online service begins its work immediately after loading the original image.

On the left of the screen you see the source file with a set of colors detected in it, on the right – the result:

Using the available tools you can:

• Disable the presence of certain colors
• Set the total number of colors in an SVG file
• Set Tolerance and Blur

By changing the parameters and pressing the “Update” button, you immediately see the final result. In order not to struggle with the settings for a long time, you can also use a ready-made set of presets:

• Photography (many/few colors)
• Drawing (many/few colors)
• Clipart (black and white, many/few colors)

By clicking on the + and – buttons on the right side of the window, you can increase or decrease the values ​​of Color, Detail, Border Width. There you can merge all layers with flowers into a single layer.

After you are satisfied with the result, press the “Download” button and download the vector image SVG format to your disk. Everything is free.

Now we will look at a very pressing topic for beginning illustrators - tracing. Trace from the word trace (trace, imprint, readable) - translation from raster graphics to vector.

I receive a lot of letters asking how to convert existing pencil sketches, gouache drawings, etc. into vector. Can this be done automatically? And will it be enough to simply convert JPEG to EPS?

Let's figure out what a vector is and what a raster is, because you just need to understand this difference, and most questions will disappear on their own!

Usually we deal with raster images: we shoot on digital camera, scan a drawing or simply save a picture from an Internet site, all this is a set of pixels, that is, a certain matrix of points from which the drawing is composed.

A fundamental difference vector - this means that the drawing consists not of points, but of objects - figures that are specified mathematical formulas. Hence the difference: when you enlarge a raster image, sooner or later the image will break up into square pixels. The vector can be increased as much as you like, the formula will remain a formula, that is, the border in the drawings will remain just as clear.

Vector drawing of a tulip made from a photograph.

Enlarged fragment of photograph and vector file.

If you simply convert a file from JPEG to EPS, it will not change anything, the pixel matrix will remain the same as it was. It's like pouring salt from a jar labeled "salt" into a jar labeled "sugar." But the inscription on the jar will not make the salt any sweeter.

An EPS file can contain both raster and vector objects, but stocks will only accept EPS that contain only vector objects.

In order to convert a photo or drawing into a vector, you need to create objects in the vector that correspond to groups of pixels in the raster image.

You can use automatic tracing. For example, you can trace using the same Illustrator: insert a raster image into Illustrator, select it, and the Live Trace button appears at the top. If you click on the triangle next to the button, preset parameters will appear.

Depending on what you want to convert into vector (photo, black and white image, sketch, logo), you need to select the appropriate option.

When you select Tracing Options, you can manually adjust the settings to achieve the best results. If you like the result, click the Expand button (same above).

Tracing principle: vector objects are created along the contour of the boundaries of pixels of similar color. Therefore, when automatically tracing photographs, it is very difficult to obtain an acceptable result: there will either be too many objects or important details will be missing.

An important feature of a vector is that you can disable, delete, move, enlarge, flip, etc. any object in the drawing without disturbing other elements. That is, the vector can be easily edited. And buyers at many banks pay more for a vector precisely because of this feature.

Unfortunately, if automatic tracing gave you a result close to the photograph, then most likely there are so many objects in the file that it is absolutely impossible to edit them. Example in the picture above - try changing the position of any petal, consisting of a thousand or two anchor points. In my opinion - impossible!

Therefore, photo banks do not like, and some do not accept, images after automatic tracing.

Here are the rules of Istockphoto.com http://russki.istockphoto.com/illustrator_5.3_traces.php

"Please be aware that iStock does not accept auto-traced files. Auto-traced files can be very difficult to edit: they add unnecessary points and shapes, strange colors, and often heavily coarse complex parts. Please do not rely on your computer will do your work for you, but take your pen and use your eyes to determine where the dots should be."

When is it appropriate to use automatic tracing? Use them to create vector fingerprints, lip prints, brush strokes, ink splatters, crayon marks, and all sorts of grunge elements. For something that has a complex structure, which is difficult or almost impossible to create on your own. In these cases, vector sloppiness is inevitable for depicting texture.

In the picture: ink was first scattered on paper, the result was photographed, and the file was converted into a vector. On the right is an example of their use.

So how do you convert a raster into a vector? If you want to get a decent result that you can be proud of, then you will have to do everything yourself! That is, draw all the contours where they should be, then color them.

I assure you that the result will be much better, no matter what tracer you use. You know much better than any computer where the boundary between two objects lies, where there should be high detail, and where one element is sufficient.

Manual photo tracing is very good way learn to draw. So if you have a digital camera, but the quality of the photos leaves much to be desired, use it to create the basis for a future vector. You don’t have to worry about the proportions and placement of light, you don’t have to think about where the shadows are and where the highlights should be. All you need to do is place the dots to create the outlines.

By the way, professionals almost always use manual tracing. First, a sketch is drawn on paper, it can be of varying degrees of elaboration, then the contours are drawn in the program (with graphic tablet it’s easier to do) and bring the work to mind.

Creating an image based on a pencil drawing:

Whatever the tracing is - manual or automatic - the file on the basis of which you made it must be yours. You cannot use raster drawings and photographs found on the Internet as a prototype!

Here's what Istockphoto.com writes in its rules:

"We value the art of tracing, but if you are not the original creator of the original image, keep derivative (i.e., "derived" from another source) images for your own aesthetic enjoyment or personal portfolio. iStock keeps a close eye on derivative works.

If you need a foundation on which to base your work in Illustrator, remember that you must be the creator of the original artwork/photo/sketch/drawing/scan on which you base your work. If an illustration is found to be based on third party source(i.e. on works you found, images from the Internet, works of other artists, magazines, clip art, etc.), this may result in the suspension of download rights."

Carefully use your own photos when creating vectors! If the face is recognizable, a release is required. When uploading a vector drawn from a photo to Istockphoto.com, you must also upload this photo (attach it to the release site). If the drawing is realistic, but it is not based on a photo, but on a sketch or your drawing, then you need to do the same in order to eliminate suspicion of violating someone’s rights. You can put an appropriate inscription on top of the sketch (if you are afraid that it may be used by someone unauthorized).

Instructions

Draw a picture or select a photo. Scan image, photograph it, that is, transfer it to digital format. Import the image to your chosen graphic editor. As you gradually zoom in, notice that image gradually breaks up into separate ones, each of which is painted in its own color. These squares are called rasters, and they are the basis of your image.

Analyze the file size. Choose the one that suits you color model(RGB, CMYK) which will help to display correctly. Using the editor, remove or add details, adjust the frame, sharpness, color scheme. Select (the optimal display value on the screen). Resolution (raster), that is, the calculation is based on the number of pixels that your picture contains horizontally and vertically. Small resolution is considered to be up to 500 pixels along one edge, medium resolution is up to 1024 pixels along the edge, everything else is considered high resolution. Large ones “eat up” a lot of memory and can take a long time to load onto the network.

Select the compression algorithm you need and save the image. For small images and animations of two or three frames published on the Internet, *.gif is suitable; the optimal ratio of quality and file compression is provided by the *.jpeg format; for working with transparent backgrounds and backgrounds, especially in small pixel images, *.png is used. These formats are mainly used in web design. The *.bmp format provides very high quality color rendering, but the files are large in size, and the *.tiff and *.raw formats, despite the size of the resulting file, allow you to save data obtained directly from digital apparatus, convey the smallest shades of color and are widely used in professional photography and in printing.

Please note

Disadvantage raster images it is considered impossible to scale them without losing quality source file

Useful advice

For optimal performance With a raster image, be sure to find out the final format you need (resolution, dots per inch, picture size).

Sources:

• Raster and vector images. General provisions and comparison.

Vector graphics is a way of representing objects using geometric primitives - points, lines, polygons. Raster graphics, on the other hand, use matrices fixed size, consisting of dots (pixels). To convert an image to vector format software converters are used.

You will need

• Adobe Illustrator

Instructions

Please note

in many editors vector graphics There is a function for converting a raster to a vector. just run some coreldraw or inkscape, import a raster image there and start the conversion.

Useful advice

How to make a vector image from a raster image, Adobe Illustrator, tracing. Typically, tracing is used for images only with solid colors and with extremely clear contours, since the presence of gradient or simply complex colors leads to the formation of a very large number vector outlines.

Sources:

• how to convert a rastovo image into a vector one

Raster graphics is a way of expressing an image in the form rectangular matrices. Each cell of such a matrix represents a colored dot. An element of such a grid is called a pixel.

Open the conversion site. If you don't want to download a program, but just quickly convert simple raster images to vector, use an automated conversion site that will automatically do all the work for you. Before saving your new vector image, you can change settings and even make your own edits.

• Of the most popular sites, it is worth noting VectorMagic, which, however, when creating account allows you to perform only two free conversions. Further conversions are only possible if you have a subscription.
• There are also free sites on the Internet, but their capabilities may not be enough to create an adequate vector image. If you need to do a lot of conversions, the next section will give you instructions on how to use the free software.

Upload the image you want to convert. Vector images work best with simple patterns and logos with few colors. You won't get good results, if you try to convert a photo into a vector image. Sites like VectorMagic support files in JPG format, BMP, PNG and GIF.

• For best results, the image should have a certain degree of smoothing. The presence of anti-aliasing can be detected by zooming in on the image - to give it a more rounded appearance, pixels of softer colors will be located along its edges. Smooth edges allow the conversion program to produce better results. Majority digital images has anti-aliasing, but you may encounter problems when vectorizing pixel art, as the result will be an image with jagged edges.