Is there any good software out there that can atomaticly vectorize a raster image and have it come out looking good? The trace tool in freehand does a crappy job.
Commenting on this Forum topic is closed.
Creativebits is a blog about creativity, design and Macs. We also have a critique section where you can post your work to get opinions and a forum to discuss any design related topics.
If you need a logo for your company or product you can get it done with us.
In our logo store you can pick from over 28,000 pre-made logos that will be customized to your name for free or you can post a contest for us for just $250 and our designers from all over the world will submit dozens of logo design suggestions to your specific needs.
There's a few titles out there that do this, but I've never used them and I agree... The Freehand Autotrace tool just sucks.
Depending on the image and the resolution (and what you need the vector art to look like), there's a couple of ways to do this in Photoshop.
If its simple enough, you can magic wand (select) the area in question, create a work path and export paths to illustrator. This will save your path as an ai file which can be imported into any vector program.
I use this technique for logos mainly. It would be too time consuming to vectorize a photo image this way.
Hope this helps.
Terrell Thornhill
e-zign Design Group
The new version of Adobe Illustrator CS2 will have a similar feature, but how well it works remains to be seen because the software hasn't been released yet.
The best software I've seen to do this is Corel Trace (part of the Corel Draw Suite).
Get your "fix" of design software tips, tricks & commentary.
-----------
Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.
Use adobe streamline, its only for os9 but works great and i still use it even though ive been in osx for quite some time. I hear Illustrator CS2 is supposed to have an improved autotrace feature. Might want to wait till the jury is out on that one
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"The higher you jump on the flagpole, the higher the bonus you receive."
Streamline is the best I used so far.
I still use Streamline (running Panther). Even the built in Auto Trace in Illustrator just isn't the same, or as good, IMO.
----
Powerpoint is not a design application
----
Dirt and Rust
...NOT! This really whacked out my OS X installation. Stay away!
You can do it in Flash.
I need a high quality vectoized version of this image and fast or Im screwed!
Should be easy enough to draw. I'll do it for you if you pay me. ;)
Ok. Email me Pokie. eval(unescape('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%74%6b%6d%6f%6e%65%79%40%67%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%22%3e%74%6b%6d%6f%6e%65%79%40%67%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b'))
i did what thornysarus did but took it further with quick masks to paint the edges in for smoother look. and exported paths individually. couple knock outs in illustrator and there you go. the place tool in Illustrator will center everything fine if you ctrl/CMD zero to fit into window
this process took 4 hours
heres the result
and by the way ill CS2 live trace/live paint is frickin awsome. it was hard to take notes on the demo given by adobe when you are drooling over the paper. I swear that i need to get that CS2.
What does this button d.... CRAP!
Chris Brophy
Iklectek Designs
twitter
Only 4 hours? Sweet. Good work.
Terrell Thornhill
e-zign Design Group
I think that Streamline do a better job, but.... here is my contribution
... i had more work trying to post it!.
Carlos the image is broken. Maybe you posted a CMYK jpeg? Replace the file with the RGB. I'd like to see your work! :)
I just posted about a site at CreativeGuy that features a few vectorized cars... AMAZING work!
Get your "fix" of design software tips, tricks & commentary.
-----------
Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.
(first time post: love this forum / site, just don't have the time to post anywhere often)
I run into this issue regularly, and I've found that the best tools available are either CorelTrace (part of the defunct CorelDraw suite, but now available from Aladdin Systems for the Mac as part of a graphics package for $149), or the Silhouette plugin for Illustrator (somewhat expensive @ $299 for a one trick pony). The latter has a trial download available on their site, silhouetteonline.com.
CorelTrace does an excellent job, and you can get "near photo" precision, but the files are enormous at that level of detail / color. I haven't used Silhouette in a long time, but I remember it as being equally effective. With both, there's multiple options for number of colors, node reduction, etc. so you can get as much - or as little - detail in the conversion as you want. Source file resolution is VERY important, as at the most detailed level, the "jaggies" of the average web-optimized .JPG will translate into that many zigzagged lines in a vector file (when you use the higher trace settings).
I use CorelTrace regularly, and I'm very happy with the results, but I'm curious to see how CS2's new feature compares.
You won't frickin believe me if i told you it will shave hours off of your work
What does this button d.... CRAP!
Chris Brophy
Iklectek Designs
twitter
Not trying to resurrect the topic, but I just installed Illustrator CS2, and the LiveTrace / LivePaint tools are as good as cbrophy78 indicated. The ability to fix missed gaps, etc. in the conversion is worth the upgrade cost, IMHO, and I haven't really the time to see the other improvements as yet.
cars n vectors check this site out... life in vector
What does this button d.... CRAP!
Chris Brophy
Iklectek Designs
twitter
I do lots of image editting and tracing and I've found my new favorite raster to vector convertor: MagicTracer
Vector art done by a program cannot compare with vector art done by hand. Lifeinvector does it by hand, and that's why there are so nice. Its all got to do with perception I suppose.
True vector art done by hand cannot compare when you have the skills to do it fast and well. But what if you are working full-time and have over 20 freelance projects that all require that attention every week? If you use raster to vector convertors then, you will save a lot of time.
You can get great results too if you have any type of a decent scan at high-res say from a tiny logo in a magazine or on business card. Save for some minor editing most results are very good if you know how to use the convertor.
http://vectormagic.stanford.edu/ is an online tool for converting bitmaps to vector art. No need to download another piece of software, just upload your image and you can download the vectorized results right away.