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EMILimok
Participant
February 23, 2026
Question

Best Method to Vectorize Photo Droplets for Spot Color Varnish Layer

  • February 23, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 61 views

From a photo showing condensation droplets on a beer bottle, I’m looking to extract and vectorize the droplets in order to create a spot color layer for selective varnish (or raised varnish) printing.
Do you have a reliable method to obtain clean paths that are ready for print?

If you’d like, I can also provide a slightly more technical version tailored for a prepress or Illustrator-focused forum.

 

FR / À partir d’une photo comportant des gouttes de condensation sur une bouteille de bière, je cherche à extraire et vectoriser ces gouttes pour générer un calque en ton direct destiné à un vernis sélectif (ou vernis gonflant). Avez-vous une méthode fiable pour obtenir des tracés nets et prêts à l’impression ?

    3 replies

    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 23, 2026

    I agree with Monika.

     

    Please show a sample photo for inspection.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 23, 2026

    I think it would help if we could see a sample of the photo.

    Tina_Irvine
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 23, 2026

    Hi ​@EMILimok,

    I would use the pen tool and trace them.

    If it’s really detailed, you could also try using Image Trace. You may need to clean it up / simplify your paths afterwards.

    EMILimok
    EMILimokAuthor
    Participant
    February 24, 2026

    Of course, here is the image.
    I would like to extract only the condensation droplets from this beer bottle.

    Doug A Roberts
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 24, 2026

    There is no programmatic way of extracting just the droplets from this in Illustrator.