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When it comes to design, how to Vectorize an Image in Illustrator. There is a lot of jargon that can be confusing to someone who is just starting out. There are words like composition, alignment, contrast, and design elements, which you may or may not know.
But if you take it one step further, you’ll find that the file formats for the design elements you need might as well be written in a different language: PNGs, JPGs, GIFs, Vectors, and so on. To make that awesome design you’ve been sketching on napkins and scrap paper for weeks, you need to know your file types, how to change them, and which one is best for your design work.
It can be pretty easy to turn the format into a vector. You can do this from the Quick Actions panel, and it doesn’t take much work. But it’s a different story if you want to change a raster image into a vector graphic.
How to Vectorize an Image in Illustrator
Image Trace in Illustrator
- Open the Image
- Open the image to be vectorized in Illustrator using the “File” menu. Click on the image to select it.
- Activate Image Trace
- Click the “Object” menu, then click “Image Trace” and “Make.”
- Choose Tracing Options
- Click the “Image Trace” button under the “Control” or “Properties” menu or select a preset option under “Tracing Presets.” Adjust and experiment with options until the traced image looks the way you want.
- Manually Adjust Vector Graphics
- If you want to manually adjust the elements of the vector graphics you generate, click “Object,” then “Image Trace” and “Expand.” Manually drag or edit the vector paths generated by Illustrator to where you want them, using Illustrator’s standard vector graphics tools.
- Save the File
- When you’re done, save your file using the “File” menu.
What Is a Vector Image?
A vector image is an image that can be scaled and is made up of values instead of pixels. Most online images are raster images. Raster images are made up of square pixels, which are bits of color. Vector graphics use color polygons that can be resized to show color. Because vector images don’t use squares that stay the same, they have perfect lines and clear colors.
Vector images don’t depend on the size of the screen because their geometry is made up of formulas. This means that images don’t lose quality when they are enlarged or shrunk because the shape of the color polygons in a vector image never changes. The same is not true for raster images, because when they are scaled, their color information gets stretched.
The file format makes it easy to tell the difference between the two types of images. The most common types of raster images are JPG and GIF, while the most common types of vector images are SVG, EPS, and AI.
FAQ
Is A JPEG a vector file?
Some other names for vector files are EPS, SVG, and Ai files. The main difference between a vector-based image and a JPEG is what it is made of. A JPEG is made up of pixels, but, strangely enough, a vector is made up of vectors. Points and lines make up vectors, while pixels are the small squares that make up an image.
Is A vector file a PDF?
Is a PDF a raster or vector? Most PDFs are vector files. However, it depends on the program used to create the document because PDFs can also be saved as raster files. For example, any PDF created using Adobe Photoshop will be saved as a raster file.
How can I tell if my PDF is a vector file?
- Attempt to highlight text in the PDF with your mouse. If you can highlight the text, the content is vector.
- Zoom in on the PDF. If the image and text remain sharp, it is a vector file.
Is A TIFF file raster or vector?
Are TIFFs and PNGs raster or vector files? TIFFs and PNGs are both raster image files, which means they’re pixel-based. On the other hand, vector files use a series of mathematical grids, points, and formulas, allowing them to maintain their resolution at almost any size.