Paw Print

The scanned image of the paw print will be a pixel-based image. Only so much can be done with those kinds of elements within Adobe Illustrator. The paw print can be modified easier as a vector-based object. The easiest thing to do is like Ton Frederiks suggested and use Live Trace to convert the paw print into vector form.

One drawback to live tracing a pixel-based image is the results can be a bit grungy or even inaccurate. If you want the most clean, accurate results manually tracing the paw print image may be the way to go. You can decide how much detail you want to include or how smooth or rough you want the finished graphic to be. Lock down the paw print image on one layer and create a new layer above it. Use tools like the Pen Tool to manually trace new paths over the edge detail of the paw print. Since you're new to Illustrator this could be a good exercise for learning the Pen Tool and the different keyboard shortcuts associated with it for modifying vector paths while you're drawing them. I think Adobe Illustrator has the best keyboard shortcuts out of any vector "draw" type application for the Pen tool as well as shortcuts for zooming in/out and hand-panning the view of the artwork. I can edit paths and toggle zoom in/out and pan-view functions while I'm editing paths. It feels pretty liberating when you learn those shortcuts and how much faster it can help you edit paths on the fly.

You could try Image Trace, use the Threshold to get more ore less details and use the Advanced settings to ignore color (white). Expand the traced image t get vectors that you can color.

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/image-trace.html

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

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