How to edit the "default" image trace in Illustrator 2024

[ponas]

I have been trying to change the default image trace option, as I would like to create a script that utilizes image tracing how do I do this? 

[ponas · Accepted solution]

I wanted to ignore the color white for all the image traces. This is how I have accomplished this: 

1) Create a custom image trace preset that ignores the white color and save the preset. This will create a "Vectorizng Presets" file that we will edit. 

2) I am on Windows, so I went to C:\Users\********\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 29 Settings\en_US\x64 and opened the file "Vectorizing Presets" using my notepad. The first preset is the one you have created. the default collection is named as "/collection7 {"

3) I added this to the bottom of the atrributes and saved it.:

		/adobe.vectorize.output.shouldIgnoreColors 1
		/adobe.vectorize.output.ignoreColors [ 18
			363535333520363535333520363535333520
		]
		/adobe.vectorize.output.alphaEnabledUI 0
		/adobe.vectorize.in.fitliveshapes 0

[Yaroslav31124682vsmh]

Why it's so complicated? Why doesn't Adobe create a checkbox "Make as Default" or something like this? 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Yaroslav31124682vsmh,

Thanks so much for jumping in! I completely understand how having a simple 'Make as Default' checkbox would make this process much easier.

At the moment, Illustrator doesn't provide a direct option to set a custom Image Trace preset as the default through the UI, which is why the workaround of editing the 'Vectorizing Presets' file is needed.

I can definitely see the value in your suggestion. Would you mind sharing this idea directly with the team on our UserVoice page here: https://adobe.ly/408L2wB? This way, it can be officially considered for future updates and you'll also get notified of any changes.

Please let me know if you have any others suggestions or queries!

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek