How to Vectorize an Image in Illustrator (Image Trace)

Vectorizing means turning a pixel picture into shapes you can scale and edit, and Illustrator's Image Trace does it in a couple of clicks. The result depends almost entirely on what you start with. A clean, high-contrast logo traces beautifully. A blurry phone photo doesn't. Here are the steps, the preset to choose for each kind of image and how to undo it if the result looks wrong.

Vectorize an image step by step

1. Choose File, then Place, select your picture and place it on the canvas.
2. Choose Window, then Image Trace to open the panel.
3. In the Preset dropdown, choose Enhanced Presets (or Legacy Presets if you have a reason to).
4. Pick a preset from the icon list at the top of the panel or from the dropdown.
5. Adjust the options until the preview looks right.

Adobe says the trace result replaces the original image, and the time it takes depends on the image resolution. Enhanced presets give you built-in handling for gradients, shapes, transparency and auto grouping, whereas with legacy presets you have to switch those on yourself.

The quick way

You don't need the panel for a fast trace. Select the picture with the Selection tool, then either click Image Trace in the Contextual Task Bar to run the Default preset instantly, or click Image Trace in the Properties panel and choose any preset. Adobe notes that you can still customise the result afterwards in the Image Trace panel, so the quick method doesn't lock you in.

Which preset for which image

Preset	What you get	Best for
Black and White	Simplified black-and-white artwork	Logos, signatures, line art
Outline	Simplified black outlines	Drawings and sketches
Grayscale	Shades of gray	Tonal artwork
Auto-Color	A posterized look	Stylised artwork from photos
Low Color	Simplified photorealistic artwork	Simple illustrations
High Color	High-fidelity photorealistic artwork	Detailed images

Key settings to know

• Threshold (Black and White mode): everything lighter than the threshold becomes white, everything darker becomes black. Move it until the details you want survive.
• Palette: Limited uses a small set of colors, Full Tone uses the full set for photorealistic results. The Colors slider moves between simplicity (0) and accuracy (100).
• Paths: controls how closely the traced shapes follow the original pixels. Lower values fit more loosely.
• View: lets you compare the trace result with the source image, including pressing and holding to see the source next to the result.

Make the tracing look cleaner

The cleanest results come from the cleanest source. Use a high-resolution original with strong contrast and a plain background. If your logo is a photo of a printed card, rescan it flat and in good light. Cropping away the empty area first also speeds up the trace. If the output has too many tiny shapes, lower the colors or raise the threshold until the extra detail disappears.

Release the trace if it goes wrong

To discard a trace and bring back the original, select the trace result and choose Object, then Image Trace, then Release. That is why I like to keep the placed image on its own layer: you can try three presets and compare them.

After you're happy: expand it

A traced image is still controlled by the trace settings. When you want to edit individual shapes, choose Expand in the Properties panel or the Object menu to convert the result into editable paths. Do this last, because once you expand you can't go back to the trace settings. Then you can recolour, delete or move individual shapes.

When not to use Image Trace

• A logo with precise geometry. Redrawing it with shapes and the Pen tool gives cleaner corners and fewer points.
• A very low resolution image. The trace will have jagged edges you can't fix.
• A photograph where you want a realistic result. Tracing will always look stylised.

If you need a logo fast and don't mind not tracing, my notes on free logo makers are worth a look, and how to send an Illustrator file covers sharing the finished artwork.

A quick example: tracing a logo sketch

Say you've drawn a logo on paper and photographed it. Place the photo, then crop away the empty paper. Choose the Black and White preset and move the Threshold slider until the lines look clean without filling in. If the result is too thick, raise the threshold. If bits of the line vanish, lower it. When you're happy, expand the trace and delete any stray specks by hand. You'll end up with a logo you can enlarge to any size, and you'll have done it in a few minutes. It won't be perfect, but it'll give you a solid base to tidy.

Check the result before you use it

• Zoom in a long way and look for rough edges, stray dots and doubled lines.
• Count the number of colours. If it's meant to be a two-colour logo, make it two colours.
• Compare it with the original by pressing and holding the view option in the panel.
• Save it as a new file name so the original stays safe.

My verdict

Choose Black and White for logos and line art, High Color for detailed pictures, and test two or three presets before you commit. Keep the original, expand only when you're happy and redraw by hand when the shapes need to be exact.

Frequently asked questions

How do I vectorize an image in Illustrator?

Place the image, open Window, Image Trace, choose a preset and adjust the options. Expand the result to edit the paths.

How do I trace an image quickly?

Select the image and click Image Trace in the Contextual Task Bar to run the Default preset, or in the Properties panel to choose a preset.

Can I undo an Image Trace?

Yes. Select the trace result and choose Object, Image Trace, Release to restore the source image.

Which preset is best for a logo?

Black and White, which simplifies the image to black-and-white artwork, is the usual choice for logos and line art.

What does the Threshold slider do?

In Black and White mode, lighter pixels turn white and darker pixels turn black around the threshold you set.