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phil180
phil180
Inspiring
February 26, 2022
Answered

Changing a PDF or JPG into a VECTOR in Photoshop

  • February 26, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 14079 views

I have been using Ps for many years now, and still have not mastered the conversion of a JPG or PDF file into a VECTOR for resizing without loosing quality.

Is there a difinitive "Tutorial" I can watch in order to learn this process please?

I have attached a PNG that I am working on below as an example.

 

PS: THIS IS FOR PHOTOSHOP NOT AI (which I understand to be a slightly different process...)

 

I look forward to a reply please...Thank you.  Phil

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer D Fosse

Since this is basically just text, retype it in Illustrator or InDesign. Or use the pen tool to retrace.

 

Photoshop isn't really a vector application, but if you retype in Photoshop and Export directly to SVG or PDF it should remain as vector data. Any other format will rasterize. If you trace with the pen tool in Photoshop, you can export the paths, but any fill will be rasterized, so that's no point.

 

In short, Photoshop is a very poor and inadequate tool for this.

3 replies

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 26, 2022

I just want to clarify that recreating this in Photoshop isn't really a problem.

 

Outputting it as vector is.

 

Almost anything you do in Photoshop will come out as pixels. There are a very few instances where it's possible get vector output from Photoshop, with the appropriate precautions. There aren't many, but type is one of them. Shapes drawn with the pen tool is not.

    War Unicorn
    Community Expert
    War UnicornCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2022

    You could try a process like this one:

    https://fixthephoto.com/how-to-vectorize-an-image-in-photoshop.html

     

    Remember, however, that results can vary based upon what the tolerance is set at. Also, Illustrator would be way better at converting an image file to vector, as all the tools necessary for vector work are right there once converted. In fact, since the design looks simple enough, I'd just trace the leftmost graphic using Illustrator's Pen Tool (even easier, since all the angles in the graphic are sharp) and use its Type Tool to replicate the type on the right (provided you can actually get/name the font used in this sample).

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      February 26, 2022

      Since this is basically just text, retype it in Illustrator or InDesign. Or use the pen tool to retrace.

       

      Photoshop isn't really a vector application, but if you retype in Photoshop and Export directly to SVG or PDF it should remain as vector data. Any other format will rasterize. If you trace with the pen tool in Photoshop, you can export the paths, but any fill will be rasterized, so that's no point.

       

      In short, Photoshop is a very poor and inadequate tool for this.

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