How to Trace an Image in Illustrator: A Step-by-Step Guide

Graphic designers use several techniques to create digital imagery, and Image Trace is one of the most commonly performed tasks in their toolkit. It makes designs incredibly versatile, whether you’re working in tiny, online formats or creating visuals for roadside billboards.

In fact, image tracing is how most logos are made, and Adobe Illustrator is the primary software used to do that. Mastering Image Trace in Illustrator is a skill you need as a graphic designer, and one you can improve and enhance with time and creativity.

Image Trace in Illustrator 101

The ability to turn an image into a vector is vital for digital designers, right up there with typography and the other elements of graphic design. Not only can you transform just about any image into a manipulatable object for logo or photo projects, but you can also scale your vector as big or small as desired without losing any quality.

Image trace is the method for turning an image made of pixels (called a raster image) into a vector, which is based on a mathematical formula rather than a fixed number of pixels. Adobe Illustrator, with its drawing features, is considered a leading tool for vector design.

Aspects to Consider Before You Start Image Tracing

You don’t need much when learning how to image trace in Illustrator. Experimenting with both a logo and photo is ideal for learning different ways to use image tracing.

The three main things you need are:

An image or logo to trace: Select a simple image with few colors, either your own design or one you’ve found.
A digital photo to trace: Choose a photo with simple shapes and few colors in .jpg or .png format.
Adobe Illustrator: As a graphic design tool, Illustrator is versatile, powerful and established in the industry.

9 Steps to Trace an Image on Illustrator

When you’re ready to trace a photo in Illustrator, you can do so in just a few minutes. If you don’t have a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, you can experiment with image trace in a free, week-long trial.

If you’re just getting started with Adobe Illustrator, familiarizing yourself with the software before delving into Image Trace will make the process that much more enjoyable.

Once you understand where to access the trace function and Image Trace panel, the process is relatively simple.

1. Open Your Image in Adobe Illustrator

Your .jpg or .png raster image should be visible in a new Illustrator document.

2. Choose Image Trace From the Window Menu

Open the “Windows” tab from the top of your screen, and click “Image Trace” to open the Image Trace panel. You can also navigate from the “Object” tab, click “Image Trace” and then “Make” to convert the image to a vector with default settings.

3. Check the Preview Box

Find the “Preview” box at the bottom of the Image Trace panel. Clicking this will show you what the image will look like in vector format. It might not look quite how you expect, but that’s because you haven’t finished the process.

4. Select the Mode Drop-Down Menu

In the Image Trace panel, you’ll see a few drop-down menus, including one for “Mode.” Click the drop-down arrow for mode, and choose if you want your trace to be in color, grayscale or black and white.

5. Modify the Colors, Grays or Threshold Slider

Depending on which mode you select, you’ll see a “Colors,” “Grays” or “Threshold” slider beneath. Adjust the slider to tweak the appearance of your image.

Colors: Control how many colors are used in the traced image. The more colors, the more complex the image.
Grays: Alter the grayscale accuracy on a scale of 1 to 100.
Threshold: Set a threshold for pixels; those darker than your setting will be converted to black.

6. Tweak the Paths Slider

In the “Advanced” controls you’ll find the “Paths” slider, which controls the distance between the traced image and the pixels of the original. Lowering the number of paths simplifies the image, but can make it look boxy. Increasing paths makes for a tighter fit between the two, but can roughen image edges. Find the right balance for your project.

7. Adjust the Corners Slider

Also in the “Advanced” controls is the “Corners” slider, which softens and sharpens bends in your design. Slide to the left for softer curves and slide to the right for sharper corners.

8. Make Adjustments to the Noise Slider

The final slider in the “Advanced” controls is the “Noise” slider. With it, you can tell Illustrator to ignore certain areas of your image. The higher you set the slider (recommended for high-resolution images), the less noise in the final image. Lowering the slider (recommended for low-resolution images) retains smaller details. The trick will be finding the happy medium for your project.

9. Save Your Image by Clicking the Expand Button

Click “Expand” in the “Properties” panel, and save your traced image as a .pdf, .ai or .eps file.

Image Trace on Illustrator FAQs

Still not sure how to trace a logo in Illustrator, or wondering how to simplify that photo on your tablet? Answers to these frequently asked questions might help.

1. Where is Image Trace on the Illustrator app?

If you’re using Adobe Illustrator on the iPad, you won’t see “Image Trace” like you do on the desktop. However, you can convert a raster image to a vector with the Vectorize tool. This will essentially do what Image Trace does, just in a slightly different way.

Select the image within the Illustrator app.
In the quick selection menu at the bottom of the screen, tap the “Vectorize” icon.
In the “Properties” panel, you can tweak colors, paths, corners, noise and other details.

2. Can you automatically trace an image in Illustrator?

If you don’t mind using default settings for a quick trace, take these steps:

Tap into the “object” tab.
Click “Image Trace.”
Click “Make.”

3. How do I vectorize an image in the Illustrator app?

You have a couple of options for how to vectorize an image in the Illustrator app. While it won’t be the same process as using the desktop version, it’s just as simple.

Manually trace the image: This is ideal for simple logos and other designs.
Use the Vectorize tool: In the “objects” panel, tap “Vectorize.”

Either method allows you to adjust details, though the Vectorize tool is better suited to complex designs and photos.

Master Adobe Illustrator

Turning a raster image into a vector is simple with Adobe Illustrator, once you know how to navigate the software. With a few clicks and tweaks of a slider, you can create logos that work for a website, merchandise, billboards and social media.

Skillshare offers several classes covering not only Image Trace, but the countless other features Adobe Illustrator includes. Learn the skills you need for a successful career in graphic design from the comfort of your own home!

Written By

Katie Mitchell

Katie lives in Michigan with her husband, kids and pets. She enjoys cooking, travel and live music.