The following is a tutorial on how to use Adobe Illustrator to convert a hand-drawn illustration into a digital graphic. More specifically, we will use Illustrator’s Image Trace function to convert a drawing into a vector image. A vector image is made up of a large set of points that can be infinitely scaled (up or down in size) without losing resolution.
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- What Should I Save My Digital Art As
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To start the process of preparing the illustration for web, take a high resolution photo (8.3 megabytes) with an iPhone 6. We didn’t have a scanner on hand.
As the film runs, the new files are recorded to a small SDHC memory card, just like the one you find inside digital cameras. This is an analog process: If you have 5 hours of film, the conversion. When it comes to saving your files, you want to make sure you save it as the appropriate file type. It’s best to save your digital file as a JPEG if your file is a photograph or has photo-like details. If your digital file has crisp lines, shapes and text, you should save it as a PNG file. Choose a file type and save your file as a high-quality image with little or no compression. The file type is the way the information in the file is translated into data that the computer can understand. TIFF, JPEG, and PNG are all fine choices. You need at least 200dpi for print - preferably 300dpi or even higher, depending on the quality required. So 11' x 200 = 2,200 pixels. Or - 11 x 300 = 3,300 pixels. JPG format loses definition EVERY time it is saved, so get it right the first time and save as max. They sell digital clipart, digital stamps, digital papers. They have been on Esty since 2012 and have 41,000+ 5 star ratings! That is awesome and let's us know that selling big on Etsy is possible! #10 is SoCuteAppliques who make SVG graphics files that are used by scrapbookers and embroidery people. Melissa has been on Etsy since 2014 and has.
Setting up the canvas
In Adobe Illustrator, open a new file with its profile set for Web, its size set to 1280 x 800 pixels, and its orientation set to landscape. This is a big enough canvas to create an image large enough to be set as a feature image on Storybench.
Upload the photo by clicking Place… in the File menu.
Cropping the photo
We want to use the Clipping Mask function to crop the photo and remove all the excess information that makes no sense to trace or even include. In the Object menu, click Clipping Mask and then Make.
Then drag the borders to crop the photo.
Convert to grayscale and rasterize
Next we convert the drawing to grayscale, which I am told makes it easier to trace by the Adobe Illustrator. In the Edit menu, select Edit Colors and then Convert to Grayscale.
Next, rasterize the image so you can trace the image. Click Rasterize… under the Object menu. Select Grayscale under Color Model.
Tracing the image
Now for the fun part. With the illustration selected, click Image Trace in the Window menu.
Next, click the checkbox next to Preview. By sliding the Treshold button you can make the lines thicker or lighter.
Next we want to convert the traced image into a vector, i.e. a set of points. Go to the Object menu, select Image Trace, and click Expand.
A closer look reveals the points that make up each piece of the illustration.
Ungroup the points
Next, we want to ungroup the points. This will allow us to move around individual elements or smaller subsets of points, like if we want to move the referee further away from the player. Select Ungroup under the Object menu. Sometimes you may need to ungroup several times.
We can also select subsets of points and regroup them. Once you’ve selected this subgroup (using the Shift key to help), click Group under the Object menu. Here we’ve moved the player away from the ref.
Adding color
Since the football player was modeled after a Seattle Seahawks player, we decided to make him the Seattle Seahawks blue. To copy a color from an image, File > Place… a screenshot of the color on your canvas. (I took the screenshot from a Seattle Seahawks logo).
To make a swatch with this specific shade of blue, we want to open the Swatches box from the Window menu. Then, click the eyedropper tool in the left menu and click the screenshot of the color.
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It will show up as the primary color in your swatch box. Click the New Swatch icon which is on the bottom-right, just left of the trash can icon. It will ask you to save the new swatch. Click OK. Now it will be saved on your list of color swatches.
Select the football player by dragging the Selection tool (or black pointer on the top left) across all the football player points. When the player is selected, click the new swatch you’ve just created. Voilá.
Delete the screenshot of the color and export your image using File > Export…
Some important options here. Make sure Use Artboards is selected to include the full canvas that you have been working on. If it is unchecked, the image exported will only be as tall and wide as the elements you’ve traced, i.e. the player and ref. Click Export. On the following PNG Options box, you have the option of selecting White, Black, Transparent or Other from the Background Color dropdown menu. Transparent is great for superimposing PNGs over other images.
We chose white and ended up with this:
All images thanks to Luna Bajak.
Businesses use many different types of documents and document scanning can be done for just about all of them. Because so many types of documents exist, several kinds of files have also been created to store, process, and use them most effectively.
You’ve probably heard of the most common file types, such as PNGs, JPGs, and PDFs. But when should you use one instead of the other? And, are the people you’re sending them to equipped to use those files? This article will guide you through which file formats you should be using for different types of files and how they impact the way you can use them.
PDF (Portable Document Format)
A PDF file is among the most commonly used file types. This file type is great for documents with text, forms, and images that contain words. Certain programs use OCR technology to make the characters in the document searchable and editable. PDFs can even be used for images since they include automatic image compression.
JPG or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
JPEGs are great for images because they can compress very large files down to a small size. This is achieved by using what’s called lossy compression, a process that extracts some of a file’s data in order to decrease the storage demand. Because lossy compression removes data from the original file, lines can show up poorly (such as logos and other graphics with lines) so it’s best to use JPEGs for files without those attributes.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
PNG files were actually created as a workaround for GIF files, which were owned by a company that charged licensing fees for usage. PNG files are mostly for digital image files and they utilize document compression, but not as much as JPEGs do. But, if you’re scanning a document with text in it or lines then PNGs can be good because they’re considered “lossless”, meaning they will produce a less pixelated file.
TIF or TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
TIFs are great for files that you don’t want compressed, because you want every bit of the data in your document. Because of this, TIF files tend to be very large, but they will hold much more detail than other file types. With the larger file size, you also get more flexibility when it comes to color and content. Colors can be grayscale, printable CMYK and even RGB for the internet. Your content can also be stored with layers and tags intact.
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Choosing The Best File Type
So, which file type should you be using? PDF and TIFF files are commonly used and accepted when it comes to files that are large, need to be kept intact, and that you want to be able to store without losing the ability to manipulate and edit elements of the file later on. If working in the file is not as important to you and you’re more concerned with the amount of space the document will take up, then the best choices will be JPG and PNG files. All four of these are commonly used and should be compatible with most recipients.
To find out about more document scanning options, contact ILM today.
Frequently Asked Questions
A PDF file is among the most commonly used file types. This file type is great for documents with text, forms, and images that contain words.
Most scanned documents are PDF’s. PDF’s are great for documents with text, forms, and images that contain words.
TIFs are great for files that you don’t want compressed, because you want every bit of the data in your document. JPEGs on the other hand are great for images because they can compress very large files down to a small size.
A PDF file is among the most commonly used file types and can be used for images since they include automatic image compression. JPEGs on the other hand are great for images because they can compress very large files down to a small size.
TIF files tend to be very large and they will hold much more detail than other file types. With the larger file size, you also get more flexibility when it comes to color and content. If you’re scanning a document with text in it or lines then PNGs can be good because they’re considered “lossless”, meaning they will produce a less pixelated file.
What Should I Save My Digital Art As
PDF’s are great for documents with text, forms, and images that contain words. They can even be used for images since they include automatic image compression. With JPEGs lossy compression removes data from the original files so lines can show up poorly (such as logos and other graphics with lines) so it’s best to use JPEGs for files without those attributes.
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TIFs are great for files that you don’t want compressed, because you want every bit of the data in your document. PDF’s are great for documents with text, forms, and images that contain words. They can even be used for images since they include automatic image compression.