Image Trace

[Timeflyer8]

I am trying to utilize the image trace in AI. Watching the video on YouTube, "Convert A PNG To Vector", at the 2:44 minute mark, it shows the Starbucks image, then he deselects "Preview" and clicks on then "Trace". 
Once I deselct "Preview", the "Trace" isn't avaialbe to click. It is greyed out. I have tried several times following along with the video, and I once I close the preview tab, trace is not highlighted.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks

[Jacob Bugge]

Timeflyer,

What happens if you abstain from deselecting Preview?

[Timeflyer8]

When I first open it up AI, place, both preview and trace options are availble.
If I click preview, trace is greyed out. Then when I uncheck preview, trace is still greyed out.
So you suggest to abstain from clicking Preview, and just click on Trace?
Then when I do click trace, trace goes to being greyed out, and preview is highlighted.
Once I get my design expanded, ungrouped move away the parts to delete, zoom in, it still looks pixalized.
I don't get it.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Timeflyer8,

Could you share more details, like the version of Illustrator installed, and a small screen recording of your workflow and the problem, so I can better assist you?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Timeflyer8]

Here are some screen shots. I hope that the help you.

• 1) Placed image
• 2) Expand is not available
• 3) Preview and Trace available
• 4) Click on preview I see thios.
• 5) My result. Yes, the shape I am looking for, but why is not one color, and if it is correct, I tried to save as .svg and cannot.
• 6) The image I have been trying since this morning to vectorize. Trying suggesitons, trying to follow videos, all with no luck. This learning curve is cruel on an old guy like me. I keep on trying but at times walk away so disgusted, I don't care if it ever works. 5 minutes later, back at it, trying again.
• 

[Timeflyer8]

I have also noticed that it looks like center rectangle is already vectorized by zoominh in on the lines. Weird

[Ton Frederiks]

I your 4th screen did you click Expand?

The rectangle is not vectorized, it just shows nicely aligned horizontal and vertical pixels.

[Timeflyer8]

I am sure that I have. It is hard for me, anyway, to remember every step I took, everytime I tired.
I have been after it all day. I am sure that I have, because in the video I believe he says to access expand from the Object tab in the tool bar, maker 2:53 in the video. I understand it could be a different version than mine. But when you try everything before asking, so you have some kind of clue what your talking about, and never gain ground, it is kind of a let down. 

[Ton Frederiks]

The one with the gradient fill is vector, but I am not sure about the black and white one, is that an image export or a screendump? 

[Timeflyer8]

I got it off the internet I believe.
In the youtube video, Convert A PNG To Vector with Adobe Illustrator, 2:57 to about 3:09, my screens doesn't look or act/respond like his at all.

[Timeflyer8]

When I drag mine off the work area after preview, expand, ungroup, ungroup, the back ground comes with it. But when I go to slide my image bak to the work are, you can plainly see the image coming across the top of work area and the background going behind it. The it looks like it it highlighted.

[Timeflyer8]

Then I get to this point. Is this where I should be?

[Monika Gause]

There are probably a gazillion videos with that title. Could you perhaps link the one you're referring to?

Also: please show screenshots from what you see.

[Timeflyer8]

I just now copied "Convert A PNG To Vector", and entered into YouTube search and the first on the list is,
"Convert A PNG To Vector in Adobe Illustrator". That is the video that I am referring to.
Thanks.


Alan


"Most of us wonder if our lives made any difference,

Marines don't have that problem."

God Bless the USA, our Troops, and You.

[cid:22a55d3c-35c5-4a4f-a1a2-a9572cf56918]

I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars

teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front of the line.
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!

[Ton Frederiks]

I took your logo and used Image Trace with the Advanced options showing and Ignore Color checked.

After clicking Expand the result is a vector logo without any white background.

[Timeflyer8]

I sure would love to know how to do that in 5 minutes, if even that, like you. 🙂
I can get it to look like that, almost.  Once I make it look yours, then move it back on the white work area, red in your case, then save? I tried that and it saves it as an (*. AI)  file. 

[Timeflyer8]

I have it saved as an .svg file, but when I open it in UGS, this is what I get.

[Ton Frederiks]

I just put a red rectangle behind the result to show that the white has gone.

There are several options to create an SVG file.

You can try Export for Screens, Export As and Save As...

[Timeflyer8]

Good morning,

I have been trying again this morning with no luck trying to convert this logo to vectorize.
It seems as if I click advanced in AI, it gives me the same options as this video shows. 1:42 - 3:57. I did manage to showhow seperate the 2 and save itas an .svg. Now it won't open in AI.
I could REALLY use some help today so I don't waste another day trying this, trying that to no success.
Yes, I have watched videos. Yes, I have read on it, but it just won't sink in. Also, it seems as though my AI screen doesn't match to the video I am following.  Convert A PNG To Vector with Adobe Illustrator - YouTube 
I realize this could be due to different versions of AI. I am using 29.4 (64bit).
But it should be pretty close. Mine never is.
It seems so simple, but I can not get a grip on it.
PLEASE HELP!

[Ton Frederiks]

Yes, that video is from 4 years ago and there were changes. Try first to learn how the current image trace works:

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/image-trace.html

[Timeflyer8]

Thank you for your help, Tom.

That video is one that I originally watched. In that video, he uses the Preview, trace, expand from the Advance tab in Image Trace. Is this the correct path I should use then?
I did manage to figure it out somewhat. More practice is need.

Another question not releted directly to Image Trace.
Is there a standard for what tooling to use for what you want to carve? And speeds and feeds. I have been using the default settings. I understand the speeds and feeds somewhat from my earlier life as a manual machine operator using metal.

[Timeflyer8]

Why is it that one time I use save as .svg and it saves it as a Gcode file.
Then I'll save it again, I think the same way, and it opens as Microsoft Edge HTML document with all the gibberish, (for lack of a better description), in the middle panel?
Beyond frustrated.

[Timeflyer8]

I get my image traced and saved as an .svg file, 1st picture.
2nd picture is where it is aved.

3rd picture is what I get when I open it in AI.
Would someone please be kind enough to help me out?
I am stuck again. Day 2. Same project.
At this point, I am willing to pay someone for help, if that what it takes.

[Ton Frederiks]

I am not a Windows user and I am not familiar with the UGS app you are using. All exports and save as options as SVG are opening fine in Inkscape. So maybe you could ask the UGS creators what could be the problem with this simple file.