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Step 3Convert to vectors
Guess what? If you just want to make an analog drawing, you're done. But if you want to keep working digitally the next step is taking your analog ink on paper drawing and turning it into a digital scalable vector graphic.
1. Scan your image
Fairly simple. Note that you do not need a 300+ dpi high resolution scan. 800x600 at 72dpi is probably fine. If you're nervous, make a it a little bigger or denser, but it likely isn't necessary.
2. Convert your scan to a vector image
What's a vector image? Look it up.
You have a couple ways of doing this.
A. Vector Magic - Vector Magic (see image below) is a free, online tool for converting images to vectors. In my experience Vector Magic works, but it's designed for simpler drawings than what I have personally attempted. However, working in sections, with smaller images, or in a different style may yield promising results. And it's free!
How:
- follow along site using their settings.
- choose just a black and white palette.
B. Inkscape/Potrace - Inkscape (wikipedia) is a free and open source scalable vector graphics editor which has a bitmap converter built in called Potrace. Basic instructions are available on the Inkscape wiki. There are several setting you can play with to get the effect you desire. And it's free and open source!
C. Adobe Illustrator CS2 and up - When CS2 was introduced Adobe added "Live Trace" which converts bitmaps to vectors. While there is massive documentation put out by Adobe for this feature, I'll make it simple.
- open your image in illustrator
- select your image by clicking on it
- press the live trace button (see image)
- the default setting usually works fine, but sometimes I select Comic Art. Play with the options and you can see how they are affected.
1. Scan your image
Fairly simple. Note that you do not need a 300+ dpi high resolution scan. 800x600 at 72dpi is probably fine. If you're nervous, make a it a little bigger or denser, but it likely isn't necessary.
2. Convert your scan to a vector image
What's a vector image? Look it up.
You have a couple ways of doing this.
A. Vector Magic - Vector Magic (see image below) is a free, online tool for converting images to vectors. In my experience Vector Magic works, but it's designed for simpler drawings than what I have personally attempted. However, working in sections, with smaller images, or in a different style may yield promising results. And it's free!
How:
- follow along site using their settings.
- choose just a black and white palette.
B. Inkscape/Potrace - Inkscape (wikipedia) is a free and open source scalable vector graphics editor which has a bitmap converter built in called Potrace. Basic instructions are available on the Inkscape wiki. There are several setting you can play with to get the effect you desire. And it's free and open source!
C. Adobe Illustrator CS2 and up - When CS2 was introduced Adobe added "Live Trace" which converts bitmaps to vectors. While there is massive documentation put out by Adobe for this feature, I'll make it simple.
- open your image in illustrator
- select your image by clicking on it
- press the live trace button (see image)
- the default setting usually works fine, but sometimes I select Comic Art. Play with the options and you can see how they are affected.
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May 14, 2009. 8:58 AMyomero
says:
Use corelDRAW, i just looooooove it...
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May 23, 2008. 10:17 AMpoetapex
says:
Rememer to convert image to a bitmap before vectorizing. Live trace (illustrator) only works on a .bmp image.
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May 23, 2008. 11:54 AMslambert (author)
says:
actually (for me at least) it has worked with every image format I tried.
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