Skip to main content
M
Melbatoast68
Participating Frequently
March 19, 2014
Question

Turn a solid image into just an outline?

  • March 19, 2014
  • 2 replies
  • 108616 views

Hello, I have a simple question that is driving me crazy. I have a guitar pick jpeg that is a black pen line filled with white I am using for a design. I placed the pick image into Ai and now can't figure out how to change it. I just want to select the image, and transform it into just an outline of the pick, all transparent everywhere except the outline shape of the pick. Almost the same as if I had drawn the pick with the pen tool, but I don't want to have to draw it. My skills in that are beginner and not very good to say the least.

Thanks

    2 replies

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 19, 2014

    Melbatoast68 wrote:

    but I don't want to have to draw it.

    A guitar pick is a fine lesson for a start. You'll have to learn the pen tool anyway. Why don't you start now?

    M
    Melbatoast68Author
    Participating Frequently
    March 19, 2014

    I've actually decided to do a state instead of a guitar pick, so it's not possible to use the pen tool. Pus, like I said, I just want illustrator to do it for me. I don't have time to learn it right now. I just want to illustrator to outline the image and make the rest of the image transparent. Is that possible or not? I've seen it done with text, where you can just press a few buttons and then the text is no longer solid, but just the outline of the words. Is there a way to do that with an image? Drawing the image is not an option.

    Thanks

      Kurt Gold
      Community Expert
      Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 19, 2014

      Can you show or provide your image in question?

      Larry G. Schneider
      Community Expert
      Larry G. SchneiderCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 19, 2014

      Look at Object>Image Trace.

      M
      Melbatoast68Author
      Participating Frequently
      March 19, 2014

      I just do that and all of a sudden it will be an outlined image with no fill and be transparent everywhere except the line of the pick??? Because I think I already saw that option somewhere and tried it and all it did was make the image lines on the pick get smoother, but didn't make the white fill in the middle go away and transparent. If that IS the way to do this, can you please give more detailed instructions as I am a beginner to Ai.

      Thank you so much

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices