Illustrator Image Trace: The Entire Process in Detail from Cleaning the Scan to Preparing Motifs

This class will use a drawn design to scan it in Photoshop and then trace it using the Image Trace feature of Adobe Illustrator.

The Image Trace feature allows you to take bitmap (raster) artwork and automatically trace it to create vector artwork. This allows you to scan sketches, illustrations, or photographs and convert them into vector art that can be edited with Illustrator. You can see the results in real time so it is helpful to experiment with the settings to get used to the effect. I will ensure your success in this process. There are many things to consider, including cleaning up the original image.

It is essential to clean up images before Illustrator can trace it. There are many ways to remove imperfections from images, and we will discuss many of them in this class. Although the Image Trace feature isn't new, it was previously known as Live Trace. However, it has been greatly improved over time. You can access additional options, and you can "test" your trace with the Image Trace panel. I'll show you how to do it step-by-step. But wait! There's more...

Live Trace can create an excessive amount of anchor points in certain places. The Smooth Tool is an amazing tool that can be used to get rid of some of these anchor points. We will discuss how to quickly redraw shapes that were not properly traced. Every motif in the scan will be corrected! You can now modify, delete, or add to your vector design however you see fit. This class has been filled with patterns, so the final three lessons will be focused on that. If you only want to learn Image Trace, you can skip the previous three lessons. The important thing is that your art is now vectorized and you can modify it in many ways.

Prerequisite skills: I recommend having some knowledge of Illustrator, with the goal to learn more techniques. We'll discuss both the design and technical aspects involved in creating simple and quick patterns. They will be demonstrated at a moderate pace to make it easy to follow. This course is open to all levels. I recommend that you have some knowledge of Illustrator. When working through difficult sections, I recommend pausing and repeating sections. You can also slow down the speed of your browser to do this. Adobe Illustrator is recommended for this course, but any other draw (vector), software is acceptable, as long it has the same functionality.

I will include the following key concepts:

• Review of Photoshop image touch-up strategies
• Photoshop: How to fix and edit specific issues
• Photoshop and Illustrator: How to deal with Noise
• In Illustrator and Photoshop, you can set the threshold and levels.
• Use the Blob Brush and Eraser Tool
• Methods to edit and address specific issues in Illustrator
• Use the Smooth Tool
• To simplify, use the Remove Anchor Points function.
• Use of the pattern maker tool with all its settings
• There are many other factors to consider when designing repeating patterns efficiently.
• Experiments with the recolor tool in the final lesson

This course is easy to digest and provides a lot of practical steps that you can use at any stage in your career. Take a chance to learn little things that you may not have ever seen , or even thought of before. This knowledge can be applied in your design practice today. This small investment of time can help you quickly trace an illustration and create a pattern collection. Click the play button!

Introduction and Overview

This video is Delores Naskrent's introduction to Illustrator Image Trace. This class will teach you how to prepare motifs for pattern design.

Lesson 1 - Scanning and Cleaning up Images

This lesson will cover the best practices of scanning and the differences between jpegs vs tiffs. We will scan the image into Photoshop and then improve it for use in Image Trace in Illustrator. We will use many strategies, including noise filters and dust filters in Photoshop and levels adjustments. To lighten certain lines, we use the Magic Wand as well as the Expand Selection function. I'll show you quick masking techniques as well as the Pen Tool for smoothing.

Lesson 2 - Image Trace Settings in Illustrator

This lesson will cover all the Image Trace Settings. We will also experiment with the background artwork. This allows us to see the artwork in the background and will help us choose the best settings. I will explain each setting's purpose.

Lesson 3 - Cleaning up the Tracing

This lesson will cover how to clean up tracing. I will show you how to use the eraser tool, the blob brush and many other tools. I will show you how to remove anchor point efficiently and the magic Smooth Tool!

Lesson 4 - Complex Corrections on Motifs

I will show you how to use functions such as rotation and offset path to alter patterns, as well as many Pathfinder function.

Lesson 5: Leafy Branch Touchup Tricks

There are many ways to clean up the image trace. This lesson will give you additional suggestions and ideas for repairs. We will continue to experiment with merging, paths, and the blobbrush.

Lesson 6 - Playing with the Patterns Options

The motifs we have created will be used to create a pattern design. We'll start with this lesson. I will show you how to quickly create coordinates using single motifs in different arrangements. We will then begin the main pattern. I will share many tips and tricks along this journey. You will see a lot of the experimental work that I do when creating a pattern.

Lesson 7 - Arranging Motifs & Pattern Play

This lesson will continue to work on the pattern and begin the testing process. As I work through the many options, you will see me in time-lapse. I walk you through the process of creating a balanced and attractive final pattern layout.

Lesson 8 - Motif Color Play and Coordinates

Pattern design involves experimentation with color. This lesson will show you how to do that. The Live Paint tool is used to color the pattern (see attached resources). I'll also show you some quick tricks using the recolor tool. I will provide two quick coordinates for the methods I have shown in class at the end of this lesson.

Lesson 9 - Mockups & Wrap-Up

In this lesson, I will summarize the class and show you quick mockups that incorporate a variety of patterns I created.

Concepts covered

These concepts include, but are not limited, to the definition of vector and raster, lossy compression and jpeg instead of tiff, offset paths, dust and scratches in Photoshop, and the expand selection function. The smooth tool, remove anchor points, lasso tool, illustrator Pattern Options panel, creating quick coordinates, pattern repeats and easy geometric patterns.

You will receive the bonus of...

• 1.5 hours of instruction from an instructor who has been in graphic design and education for more than 40 years
• Be open to considering multiple options for solving each design problem
• Handouts explaining key concepts
• Here's a list of useful online resources to help you further your education