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This seems like it should be easy enough, but don't know enough Illustrator to do it.
I am using Image Trace on a transparent placed png. Used the Low Quality Photo preset. Then I expanded it. I get this grouping after deleting the bottom path item (original white background).
Edit: Added new post below with new explanation of the issue I'm facing --
I would like to stroke just the outer edge of this path (around the stump). What's the operation to merge all of these paths into one? I tried making a compound path but it still stroked the inside pieces. Or is there a better Image Trace preset I should use to just get the exterior.
Thanks.
Setting Ignore White has been a problem like forever, but it got worse when Adobe update the feature to Ignore Colors.
Check this thread for a possible solution
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In Image trace, trace Black and white (will work best or at all when the image has a white background or transparent)
Afterwards you can try and open Window Pathfinder and then click on the top left button Unite
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Thanks Monika. I am trying to get a trace of the transparent png, but it's capturing the frame of the placed object (rectangle on outside). Really I just want an outline of the placed transparent PNG. Trying to re-create with scripting, but can't seem to get it to right. Not sure if you'e a scripter, but maybe someone else has some ideas of the options I can use:
var gTracingOptions = {
cornerFidelity: 75,
ignoreWhite: true,
noiseFidelity: 25,
maxStrokeWeight: 1,
minArea: 5,
minStrokeLength: 1,
outputToSwatches: true,
palette: '',
pathFidelity: 50,
threshold: 128,
tracingMode: TracingModeType.TRACINGMODEGRAY
}
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Correction, I got the trace I need. Is there a way to export the trace preset out and load them?
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You cannot export them via the application interface. But the presets are saved into the Preferences. You can find the location in this list: https://www.vektorgarten.de/illustrator-settings.html
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OK, so here is the latest. This has become more of a scripting questions. When I run the trace manually, I get the outline path the way I want it:
I can unite this. However, when I run the same settings in my script, I am capturing the outer group, and the white space is expanding (note how small the artboard is in the image above).
Here are the final settings I am using (copied from the good preset above):
var topts = {
tracingColorTypeValue: TracingColorType.TRACINGFULLCOLOR,
palette: "NoLib",
colorGroup: "All",
tracingColors: 30,
colorFidelity: 100,
threshold: 128,
grayLevels: 50,
pathFidelity: 50,
cornerFidelity: 75,
noiseFidelity: 25,
tracingMethod: TracingMethodType.TRACINGMETHODABUTTING,
fills: true,
strokes: false,
maxStrokeWeight: 10,
snapCurveToLines: true,
ignoreWhite: false,
}
Here's the preset:
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Setting Ignore White has been a problem like forever, but it got worse when Adobe update the feature to Ignore Colors.
Check this thread for a possible solution
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@brian_p_dts I'd also appreciate it if you could leave your vote on the Uservoice about tracing issues in the ExtendScript API.
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Done, this is annoying. You're workaround to edit the .h file did not work for me.
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Thanks. You didn't quite get my point about SDK. My point was that Adobe engineers probably added a color ignore control for plugins, but as usual did nothing for the ExtendScript language.