Adobe Illustrator VECTORIZE Tutorial (Image Trace) Ai Art
TLDRIn this tutorial, the presenter demonstrates how to vectorize AI art using Adobe Illustrator's Image Trace feature. They start with a pixelated JPEG image and guide viewers through the process of opening the Image Trace panel, selecting a preset, and adjusting settings for optimal results. The video explores different presets, the importance of choosing the right number of colors, and the use of advanced settings like path fitting, corners, noise, and simplify to refine the vectorized image. The presenter also shows how to ignore a specific color to remove backgrounds and emphasizes the need to expand the traced image for further editing. They compare the results with Vectorizer AI, noting its superior performance but higher cost, and suggest considering Adobe Illustrator as a free alternative despite its limitations.
Takeaways
- 🖼️ To vectorize an image in Adobe Illustrator, use the Image Trace panel and select the appropriate preset for your artwork.
- 🎨 The default preset may not be ideal for print, so explore different presets like High Fidelity Photo, 3 Colors, 6 Colors, and 16 Colors.
- 🔄 After choosing a preset, adjust the number of colors with the color slider to find the best balance for your design.
- 🔍 Use the advanced settings to fine-tune the vectorization, such as path fitting, corners, noise, and simplify options.
- 🔧 Path fitting adjusts the tightness of the vector path, with higher values resulting in a tighter fit and lower values in a smoother appearance.
- 🧊 The corners setting determines the sharpness of the vector corners, with higher values creating more corners and lower values rounding them off.
- 📉 Noise reduction is crucial for a clean vector image; higher values reduce jagged edges and noise, but be cautious not to lose important details.
- 🔗 The simplify feature reduces the number of anchor points in the vector, which can help streamline the graphic for easier editing.
- ❌ Use the 'Ignore Color' feature to remove unwanted background colors, such as a beige background, from your vectorized image.
- 📐 After vectorization, expand the image trace to convert it into a true vector format, allowing for further editing with tools like the Direct Selection Tool.
- 💲 While Adobe Illustrator's Image Trace is a powerful tool, it may not match the quality of paid alternatives like Vectorizer AI, which offers smoother results with less manual adjustment.
- 🌟 For those looking for a free alternative to Vectorizer AI, consider exploring other options that offer a range of settings and features to achieve satisfactory vectorization results.
Q & A
What is the purpose of the Image Trace panel in Adobe Illustrator?
-The Image Trace panel in Adobe Illustrator is used to convert raster images (like JPEGs) into vector graphics, which can be scaled without losing quality.
What is the default preset in the Image Trace panel and why is it not ideal for print on demand (POD)?
-The default preset turns the image into a black and white graphic, which is not ideal for POD because it lacks color and detail necessary for high-quality printing.
What are some of the presets in the Image Trace panel that are suitable for vectorizing images with colors?
-The presets that are suitable for vectorizing images with colors include 'Three Colors', 'Six Colors', and '16 Colors'.
How can you adjust the number of colors in the vectorized image during the Image Trace process?
-You can adjust the number of colors by using the color slider in the Image Trace panel to increase or decrease the color count as needed.
What is the 'Path Fitting' setting in the advanced settings of the Image Trace panel and how does it affect the vectorized image?
-The 'Path Fitting' setting controls the tightness of the vector paths. A higher value results in a tighter fit, which can be too rough around the edges, while a lower value makes the image smoother but may lose detail.
How does the 'Corners' setting in the advanced settings influence the appearance of the vectorized image?
-The 'Corners' setting determines the sharpness of the corners in the vectorized image. A higher value creates more sharp corners, while a lower value results in more rounded and smooth edges.
What does the 'Noise' setting do and how can it be used to improve the vectorized image?
-The 'Noise' setting controls the amount of jagged edges or irregularities in the vectorized image. A higher value reduces noise, creating a smoother image, but too high a value can lead to loss of detail.
What is the 'Simplify' feature in the Image Trace panel and how does it help in editing the vectorized image?
-The 'Simplify' feature reduces the number of anchor points in the vectorized image, which can help to tidy up the graphic and make it easier to edit. However, setting it too low can distort the image.
How can you remove a specific color, such as a background, from the vectorized image using the Image Trace panel?
-You can use the 'Ignore Color' feature in the Image Trace panel. By clicking on the 'Color Picker' and selecting the color you want to ignore (like a beige background), Illustrator will remove that color from the vectorized image.
What is the final step in converting a traced image into a usable vector format in Adobe Illustrator?
-The final step is to go to 'Object > Image Trace > Expand'. This converts the traced image into a true vector format that can be edited using tools like the Direct Selection Tool.
How does the Image Trace feature in Adobe Illustrator compare to other vectorization tools like Vectorizer AI?
-While Adobe Illustrator's Image Trace feature is advanced, it may not produce as clean or smooth results as Vectorizer AI, which is considered superior but also more expensive. Illustrator's Image Trace can be improved with manual adjustments, but it may not match the ease and quality of Vectorizer AI.
Are there any free alternatives to Vectorizer AI that can produce decent vectorization results?
-Yes, there are free alternatives to Vectorizer AI that can provide good results. The video suggests looking for other options that offer a variety of settings and features to help achieve satisfactory vectorization.
Outlines
🎨 Vectorizing AI Art in Adobe Illustrator
The video begins with a demonstration on how to vectorize AI art using Adobe Illustrator. The presenter opens a pixelated JPEG image and guides viewers through the process of vectorization by using the Image Trace panel. Initially, the image is traced into a black and white graphic, which isn't suitable for print on demand (POD) due to the default preset. The presenter then provides an overview of different presets, highlighting that 'High Fidelity' and 'Low Fidelity photo' are better for photographs, while 'three colors', 'six colors', and '16 colors' are more appropriate for graphics with colors. After choosing the '16 colors' preset, the presenter fine-tunes the result by adjusting the number of colors. The next step involves adjusting advanced settings such as 'path fitting', 'corners', and 'noise' to balance detail and smoothness. The presenter emphasizes the importance of finding a balance that works for the specific graphic being vectorized.
🖌️ Refining Vectorization with Advanced Settings
The presenter continues by discussing the 'simplify' feature, which reduces the number of anchor points in the graphic, making it easier to edit but potentially losing detail if set too low. They recommend keeping the 'simplify' setting between 80% and 90% for printed graphics. Additionally, the presenter introduces the 'ignore color' feature, which allows users to remove a specific color, such as a beige background, from the vectorized image. The presenter compares Adobe Illustrator's Image Trace feature with Vectorizer AI, noting that while Vectorizer AI provides superior results, it has become a paid tool. They conclude by suggesting that Adobe Illustrator is a viable alternative for vectorizing graphics, despite not matching the quality of Vectorizer AI. The presenter also mentions that they will explore a free alternative to Vectorizer AI in a subsequent video.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Vectorize
💡Adobe Illustrator
💡Image Trace Panel
💡Presets
💡Path Fitting
💡Corners
💡Noise
💡Simplify
💡Ignore Color
💡Vectorizer AI
💡Expand
Highlights
The tutorial demonstrates how to vectorize AI art using Adobe Illustrator.
A simple JPEG image is used as an example, which is pixelated and needs vectorization.
The Image Trace panel in Illustrator is used to convert the image into a vector format.
Different presets are available for various types of images, including logos, sketches, and photographs.
High Fidelity and Low Fidelity Photo presets are suitable for detailed vectorization of photographs.
Three Colors, Six Colors, and 16 Colors presets are recommended for starting the vectorization process.
Adjusting the number of colors can improve the vectorized image, especially when starting with 16 colors.
Advanced settings allow fine-tuning of the vectorization process, including path fitting and corner adjustments.
Path fitting should be balanced to avoid rough edges or loss of detail.
Increasing the corner value creates more sharp edges, while decreasing it results in smoother, rounded corners.
Noise reduction is crucial for a clean vector image, but too much can lead to loss of detail.
The simplify feature can reduce the number of anchor points for easier editing but should be used carefully.
Ignoring a specific color, such as the background, can be done using the Ignore Color feature.
After vectorization, the image must be expanded to become a true vector format for further editing.
Vectorizer AI is mentioned as a superior tool for vectorization but is now a paid service.
Adobe Illustrator's Image Trace feature is a free alternative but may not produce the same quality results as Vectorizer AI.
The tutorial provides a comparison between Adobe Illustrator's Image Trace and Vectorizer AI, highlighting the differences in quality.
An alternative to Vectorizer AI is suggested for those seeking a free option with good settings and features.