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selina09876
selina09876
New Participant
August 9, 2017
Question

Image Trace for complex drawing- losing details!

  • August 9, 2017
  • 5 replies
  • 35903 views

Hi everyone!

I have been working countless hours trying to figure this out:

I need to vectorize this palm tree without losing too much detail. When I use image trace and I select "Ignore white" it turns a much darker, more solid black. I have also played around with all of the settings in the image trace panel but nothing seems to work.

I also tried to not use "ignore white" and just delete all the white spaces manually, but when I do that I lose the white lines, which seem to be layered on top of black, creating just a solid black mass.

I can get it to an image that is OK for a large size but when I scale it down it loses a ton of detail.

So my questions are: 1. How to vectorize this drawing without losing too much detail and delete the white spaces. 2. Is there a way to scale it down and not lose detail?

Thanks a lot!

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    5 replies

    John Mensinger
    John Mensinger
    Inspiring
    August 10, 2017

    selil74060827  wrote

    I need to vectorize this palm tree...

    Why?

    In your position, I'd start to question why a vector graphic is required. I doubt it really is. I don't know how you arrived at a raster image of it in the first place, but with a good quality scan at high enough resolution, there's no reason this can't just live as a raster image for any purpose.

    selina09876
    selina09876Author
    New Participant
    August 11, 2017

    HI John

    The reason why I want to make it a vector is because I need to place the image (black lines only) on a off-yellow background. I believe if I keep it as a raster I cannot delete the white behind it, correct?

    Thanks!

    Monika Gause
    Monika Gause
    Braniac
    August 11, 2017

    selil74060827  schrieb

    HI John

    The reason why I want to make it a vector is because I need to place the image (black lines only) on a off-yellow background. I believe if I keep it as a raster I cannot delete the white behind it, correct?

    Thanks!

    You could make it Multiply.

    Or save it as a bitmap (1 bit image) in high resolution

      S
      SebMurtagh
      New Participant
      August 10, 2017

      Hey,

      I'm afraid I can tell almost immediately that your drawing will struggle to vector to a high enough standard because of the drawing size, tiny line strokes and detailing.

      You could try the High Fidelity Photo tracing preset and then change the mode to Black and White and play around with the Threshold in the Image Trace Panel.

      If that doesn't work, you'll most likely be left with one of 2 options; Make a compromise based on how it does vector ...or redraw the image on a larger scale and take the limitations of vectoring into consideration. (Generally use a thicker line weight and don't utilise techniques where lines will sit close together e.g. cross hatching.)

      selina09876
      selina09876Author
      New Participant
      August 11, 2017

      Thank you SebMurtagh

      I have done the high fidenilty photo in black and white and played with the threshold. The problem is when I click "ignore white" it darkens again.

      I think I will have to draw the image in order to make it a more successful vector.

      Thank you!

      D
      default8iyf5gza9l5s
      New Participant
      March 12, 2021

      Hi, you should try this:

      Do not click the ignore white button and trace the image first.

      Once you get the result, simply select one white color object, go to:

      Select > Same > Fill Color

      All white color will be selected, then click delete, it should be all work out!

        Jeff Witchel, ACI
        Jeff Witchel, ACI
        Braniac
        August 10, 2017

        But like Monika said, you will lose detail when you scale it smaller.

        Jeff Witchel, ACI
        Jeff Witchel, ACI
        Braniac
        August 10, 2017

        In the Image Trace panel (Window menu > Image Trace) try lowering or increasing the Threshold setting until you get closer to the amount of detail you'd like.

        selina09876
        selina09876Author
        New Participant
        August 11, 2017

        Thank you Jeff

        I have played with the threshold but when I select "ignore white" it automatically darkens all of the lines

        Monika Gause
        Monika Gause
        Braniac
        August 9, 2017

        You can scale up and down and not change a thing in a vector graphic.

        The only problem is reproduction. Printers, plotters etc. are not capable of reproducing details below a certain size (depends on the exact method of reproduction)

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