How to trace an image in illustrator

Import the source image

Firstly, you’ll need the original image that you want to trace in Illustrator. Open the program and select “Create a new document.” You can click on File > Open, and then locate it on your PC’s storage. There are many formats available, such as JPG, PNG, and TIFF. Another way you can do it is to click on File > Place to insert the image directly onto your project.

Trace the image

When you have the source image in your file, you need to have the selection tool active. Press the V button on your keyboard to ensure it’s selected. You should click on Object > Image Trace > Make in the main menu to start tracing the image in Illustrator. You’ll notice that it becomes a black and white vector.

When you select the Properties panel, you’ll see all the options you have for image tracing. Feel free to play around with them to see which one suits you best.

Advanced tracing options

Once you’re in the Image Tracing mode, you’ll find an Advanced drop-down section. Here, you can set several parameters to adjust how the lines and hues appear on your screen. There’s a preview box if you want a taste of what it will look like. When you’re done, select Trace to complete the task.