How to convert image to paths only

[Ton Loc]

See the attached image.

I just want to drag an image into Illustrator and have it make one path automatically.

Is this possible?

I have to do this with many images, so pencil and pen tool (manual method) won't do.

Thanks

[Jacob Bugge]

Ton Loc,

The long answer is no.

A shape like the smooth and accurate spiral is careful work, impossible to leave to some automatic rendering.

No algorithm, whichever term is used, can see what you see, especially including seeing how things need to be improved from irregularity in overall shape and in details.

Returning to your spiral sample, there is also an actual decision of the exact shape; unless it is just a general sample to make the looker conceive it as a spiral of whichever kind.

In any case I believe it will be better (and easier presumably) to create it as vector artwork, which can be done more swiftly for general samples. And then there are free vector stock images.

[Ton Loc]

Is there no app that does this after all these years?

[Jacob Bugge]

Ton Loc,

In addition to that mentioned above, just to mention a few aspects:

With the inherent irregularities of the spiral sketch there is a whole range of perfect spirals that can fit depending on choice of a few reference points from the sketch.

There is also the question of possible perspective which will make a perfectly regular simple shape such as a square become quite different.

And depending on the level of inaccuracy, even for other folk it can be hard to be sure which exact shape is desired (including possible perspective/other features).

[Kurt Gold]

On Windows OS there is an application called WinTopo that may handle your request.

Sometimes very good and sometimes pretty good.

You may try it out if you're on Windows OS.

[Ares Hovhannesyan · Accepted solution]

In Ai there is Image Trace. You can try that. How to edit artwork in Illustrator using Image Trace (adobe.com)