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Question

image trace

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
September 19, 2017
5 replies
3283 views

Hi, I am new to Illustrator, with some CAD background a while back.

I have a JPEG screen shot with two letters from an unusual hand written font I want to trace and 'clean up'

The two letters are small on a white background but a 'rectangle' surrounds them....

Do I need to use FILE ▶Place Instead of just opening as a new file ?

I have imaged traced and manually traced, but I can't seem to select the paths/object after.

Any help is appreciated.

I have read quite a bit..... but I am missing something basic.

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angie_taylor

Legend

Try this,

Create a new file, choose one of the web presets for now

Go to File > Place and then select the image that you want to trace

Select the image and Click on Image Trace (Open the Image Trace panel if you need to adjust settings)

Once you have traced the image, with it still selected, click on the EXPAND button, in the Control panel.

Now you should see all the paths when you select the artwork?

To select individual elements, double-click the artwork to go into Isolation mode.

Hope this helps.

W

Wynn LareAuthor

Participating Frequently

This is the image I have been trying to trace. The screen shots were

placed in PDF files and attached here, which may not be allowed. In which

case I would have to try and see if Ican find the shots in a folder on my

laptop and put them into file type of PNG as an upload...... using the

photo icon on the bottom won't support a PDF .... there are different

issues going on here.

Importing files to Ilustrator and opening them properly, getting Image

trace to react and then trying to send documentation to SHOW the work. And

obstacles at every turn.

I have been scouring a lot of advise and I like your suggestion to open a

file for the web. I did read at one point to have a file to place into that

"already has raster art" that didnt make sense UNTIL NOW.

i did try looking at your LYNDA on isolation, currently I am not a LYNDA

subscriber but I have already been thinking about it. All these

subscription models take time and money and i think all of us have to

budget BOTH. I dont use forums to solve my problems typically. Certainly

not before read and watch and TRY plenty of ideas FIRST.

IF you can't see my files i will have to try and save the screen shots as

PNG and hope that works to upload through the photo icon at the bottom here

on GMAIL.

THANKS !!

On Sun, Sep 24, 2017 at 11:54 PM, theangietaylor <forums_noreply@adobe.com>

angie_taylor

Legend

I really recommend going through a structured Illustrator course on Lynda.com. The thing about these courses is that they are designed to teach you the application from the ground up so you'll get to grips with the fundamentals before learning more advanced techniques.

The problem with the free "youtube" learning is that it is not structured. It's fine for learning a quick tip here and there but to learn the app you need a properly structured course. This is possibly why you feel like you keep hitting obstacles. Illustrator is not an easy or intuitive app (in MHO) particularly for those coming from a Photoshop background.

Make life easier for yourself and take a course on Lynda. Here's a link for 30 days of free access for you :-)

http://lynda.com/trial/angietaylor

When you checkout, enter the following code. I've upgraded it to give you 30 days free;

Code: 7 DAY FREE TRIAL

angie_taylor

Legend

It would really help us if we could see what your issue is. Once you have taken the screenshots please upload them to your reply using this button at the top of the message pane.

angie_taylor

Legend

Also, once you have Expanded the Image Trace, the easiest way to select individual paths from this (or any group of paths) is to go into isolation mode. This allows you to individually select elements. The easiest way to do this is just to double-click on the path that you want to select. Depending on the depth of grouping, you may need to double-click multiple times till the appropriate path is selected.

Once you've made the desired changes, hit the Escape key to exit Isolation Mode.

Hope this helps.

angie_taylor

Legend

Hi there,

Here's a link to a tutorial I made a few years back about Isolation Mode and some of its uses;

https://www.lynda.com/After-Effects-tutorials/Using-group-isolation-mode/123481/128887-4.html?lpk35=8189&utm_medium=ldc-partner&utm_source=CMPR
C&utm_content=524&utm_campaign=CD14836&bid=524&aid=CD14836

W

Wynn LareAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thanks for the help in isolation mode.

I have drawn a marquee around the two letters several times ....that gets me the ability to alternately see the paths with their drawing points.

I HAVE ..... ... been in isolation mode as a 'try and see' and the two letters really can't have much of anything 'done to them'....(no selecting with either selection tool....)..

I will get back to my laptop and send some screen shots.

This is going to help someone else ....no doubt ....when it gets solved.

D

Debbie Keller

Participating Frequently

Did you click "Expand" after tracing the image?

Yes, it is always a good idea to create a document in Illustrator first and then place the image you want to use. This keeps you from not having any colors in your Swatches panel.