Converting multiple PNG file to AI

[Attroll]

I am looking for a way convert multiple files from PNG file to AI format.

Is there any way to do this with illustrator without doing it manually one at a time?

Or is that any other software that can do this?

What I actually need to do on convert them from PNG to AI format and in the process also convert them to gray-scale.  

[Monika Gause]

There is no conversion option. They need to be traced. Either manually or automatically.

How to edit artwork in Illustrator using Image Trace

What is it? Logos? In that case to it manually.

[Attroll]

If I trace the file as you pointed out, I lose a lot of the characteristics that are in the PNG file.

There is another way that I found that I can do without tracing it.

I can open the file in illustrator and selected the layer, for to Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale and save it as a AI file.

I have over 100 of these files to do. I was just hoping that there was a script or something from within Illustrator that would do it all automatically for me.

Than you for point that out anyways.

[Monika Gause]

  schrieb

If I trace the file as you pointed out, I lose a lot of the characteristics that are in the PNG file.

There is another way that I found that I can do without tracing it.

I can open the file in illustrator and selected the layer, for to Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale and save it as a AI file.

I have over 100 of these files to do. I was just hoping that there was a script or something from within Illustrator that would do it all automatically for me.

Than you for point that out anyways.

They will stay pixel images when you do that.

[Attroll]

Yes they will stay pixels but it's a image with a lot of tiny icons in it. This is the only way that it seems not to lose a lot.

I wish there was another way. I would really like to keep everything as AI files.

I can't do that because these files are generated by some other software.

I really appreciate you trying to help.

I could attach he file if you would like to see what I am referring to?

[maxwithdax]

Attroll,

I guess we are a bit confused because the whole point of having something in Adobe Illustrator is so that they are vector art. If you have a png that is simply saved as an AI file, it would be no different than having a jpg saved as a word doc. Can you elaborate as to why you want them as png? Are you adding vector graphics on top of them?

Thanks

- Dax

And yes, a screenshot would be helpful to give us reference and context.

[KShinabery212]

Becareful using the TRACE option.  It may not give you perfect results.

It really depends on what you are doing.  Theoretically you may want to simpy recreate the images in Illustrator.  Especially if the lines need to be percise.

I saw that you said you have 100 files to convert and I know that might be a pain to redo each one.

Can you elaborate to what the images are?  Do they need precision?

[ryan_edwards]

find the original assets used in the pngs.. and pray they were vector assets.  If not... time to have an existential crisis and read the replies above (they cover it all... live trace is an option.. but it will try to match stuff, won't be too exacting -- also it's probably going to translate any transparency info in the PNGs incorrectly)

If you don't need resize the images why not just put/embed them in an .ai file and desaturate them with a filter (again this is kinda dumb as your files aren't really .ai vector files... just raster bitmap images sitting in .ai containers)

just think thru your project and if you truly need all the files to be ai, you might need to rebuild some assets by hand/from scratch.

I leave you with a jurassic park movie quote...

Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.

[CHMprepress]

If I understand what you need to do is open PNG , convert to gray and save it.

This can be best don in Photoshop with a action, no need to go by Illustrator.

[ryan_edwards]

OP is explicitly asking/wanting his files a vector AND greyscale.. that doesn't help him

[Myra Ferguson]

The OP says, "Yes they will stay pixels but it's a image with a lot of tiny icons in it." So I don't think he expects vectors.

In that case, he could either use Photoshop, or he could save an action within Illustrator to open a png, go to Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale, save, and close. If those PNGs are in a single folder, he could point the batch process to that from the Actions panel.

[ryan_edwards]

I am looking for a way convert multiple files from PNG file to AI format.

Maybe OP should just move this to the photoshop community ¯\_(ツ)_/¯