Web Design Forums

dougmays · 26-02-2007, 13:59

i was wondering what most people do to convert bitmaps and other nonvector images into vectors. I've been manually tracing using the pen tool in fireworks. but i was wondering if anyone knew of any better ways. I heard illustrator had a good conversion tool. is this true? and if so what version?

Doug

Maerk · 26-02-2007, 14:00

Depends what outcome you're looking for, livetrace is the function now built into Illustrator CS2, which has its moments, but its somewhat and will never be as smooth and refined as doing it manually.

John Good · 27-02-2007, 02:20

flash can be helpfull.

emil · 27-02-2007, 02:35

I have CS2 and still trace things manually. But I like the 3d tool

hit-squad · 06-03-2007, 04:32

cutout filter hahaha mate just use pen tool, best result

78robots · 20-03-2007, 12:00

It depends on what you're going for. I've found that CS2 Livetrace works pretty well for hand drawn illustrations - I have a couple examples in my Portfolio:

Click on Pirate Zombie Skull and Skateboarding Bird Monster, both were hand drawn and livetraced. I thought the conversion was pretty good -
Aaron Ray | Design Illustration Motion

But if it was a cleaner image with staight lines I think the pen tool would work best.

Herr Kurm · 20-03-2007, 12:02

you can get some pretty interesting results when tracing photos and you have previously opened a couple of palettes so that you can apply them from tracing options

top_buzz · 20-03-2007, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by 78robots

It depends on what you're going for. I've found that CS2 Livetrace works pretty well for hand drawn illustrations - I have a couple examples in my Portfolio:

Click on Pirate Zombie Skull and Skateboarding Bird Monster, both were hand drawn and livetraced. I thought the conversion was pretty good -
Aaron Ray | Design Illustration Motion

But if it was a cleaner image with staight lines I think the pen tool would work best.

Nice work!

78robots · 20-03-2007, 13:29

Thanks!

twopixls · 29-04-2007, 01:53

Hi
You can use flash for that it will be easier for you

Neel
www 2pixls com

Larixk · 29-04-2007, 05:33

tracing by hand is the only way you're sure to get what you want.

It's not that hard, get on a first name basis with mr Pen Tool.

Dusteh · 30-04-2007, 07:01

My very first job using photoshop back in the day involved tracing complex shapes with mr pen tool. Took me ages to work out I could edit the angles of the points after I'd drawn them. Bless.

dougmays · 01-05-2007, 23:53

If i create and image in Fireworks, save it as a png, open that png in photoshop, and then save as an eps...is that a true vector image?

Herr Kurm · 02-05-2007, 01:35

No its not. You have to create it with vector tools. If you feel that you are not skilled enough and are willing to shell out a little sum of cash I bet there are people who are willing to do it for you.

hawken · 02-05-2007, 02:48

I used to trace things in flash, it's quick and easy.

bluesbruno · 07-05-2007, 22:46

What I usually do when I want a clean trace: I try to draw as smooth as possible to let illustrator do more trace less guess. having a nice clean resolution scan/picture of your work will definately pay off when you're tracing with whichever tool you choose to trace with-

just my two cents.-

26-02-2007, 13:59	#1 (permalink)
dougmays Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Posts: 90	Converting to Vector i was wondering what most people do to convert bitmaps and other nonvector images into vectors. I've been manually tracing using the pen tool in fireworks. but i was wondering if anyone knew of any better ways. I heard illustrator had a good conversion tool. is this true? and if so what version? Doug

26-02-2007, 14:00	#2 (permalink)
Maerk Doodler. Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 1,319	Depends what outcome you're looking for, livetrace is the function now built into Illustrator CS2, which has its moments, but its somewhat and will never be as smooth and refined as doing it manually. __________________ sreski & scrapbook.sreski

27-02-2007, 02:20	#3 (permalink)
John Good + Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tropical Networks Posts: 1,318	flash can be helpfull. __________________ Fonts are like cologne: A bad choice speaks louder than a good one. Justin Feinstein

27-02-2007, 02:35	#4 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 6,419	I have CS2 and still trace things manually. But I like the 3d tool __________________ Voting: Self portraits Q X R

30-04-2007, 07:01	#12 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 3,981	My very first job using photoshop back in the day involved tracing complex shapes with mr pen tool. Took me ages to work out I could edit the angles of the points after I'd drawn them. Bless. __________________ unconsolidated isoparms

06-03-2007, 04:32	#5 (permalink)
hit-squad digital artist Join Date: May 2006 Location: plymouth. uk Posts: 147	cutout filter hahaha mate just use pen tool, best result

20-03-2007, 12:00	#6 (permalink)
78robots Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 27	It depends on what you're going for. I've found that CS2 Livetrace works pretty well for hand drawn illustrations - I have a couple examples in my Portfolio: Click on Pirate Zombie Skull and Skateboarding Bird Monster, both were hand drawn and livetraced. I thought the conversion was pretty good - Aaron Ray \| Design Illustration Motion But if it was a cleaner image with staight lines I think the pen tool would work best.

20-03-2007, 12:02	#7 (permalink)
Herr Kurm bloody peasant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 2,649	you can get some pretty interesting results when tracing photos and you have previously opened a couple of palettes so that you can apply them from tracing options

20-03-2007, 13:29	#9 (permalink)
78robots Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 27	Thanks!

29-04-2007, 01:53	#10 (permalink)
twopixls Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2	Hi You can use flash for that it will be easier for you Neel www 2pixls com

29-04-2007, 05:33	#11 (permalink)
Larixk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Utrecht, Netherlands Posts: 924	tracing by hand is the only way you're sure to get what you want. It's not that hard, get on a first name basis with mr Pen Tool.

01-05-2007, 23:53	#13 (permalink)
dougmays Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Posts: 90	If i create and image in Fireworks, save it as a png, open that png in photoshop, and then save as an eps...is that a true vector image?

02-05-2007, 01:35	#14 (permalink)
Herr Kurm bloody peasant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 2,649	No its not. You have to create it with vector tools. If you feel that you are not skilled enough and are willing to shell out a little sum of cash I bet there are people who are willing to do it for you.

02-05-2007, 02:48	#15 (permalink)
hawken Cornish Pasty Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 2,233	I used to trace things in flash, it's quick and easy. __________________ ere, wosson?

07-05-2007, 22:46	#16 (permalink)
bluesbruno sur112.com Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mexico City Posts: 26	What I usually do when I want a clean trace: I try to draw as smooth as possible to let illustrator do more trace less guess. having a nice clean resolution scan/picture of your work will definately pay off when you're tracing with whichever tool you choose to trace with- just my two cents.-

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