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05/10/2006 12:00:16 AM · #1 |
Anyone know of any decent tools to create vector graphics from photos?
I think Illustrator can do it, but I don't have it and not wanting to pay for it. Anything good and cheapish?
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05/10/2006 12:23:21 AM · #2 |
| pencil. paper. bright lightbulb. :P |
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05/10/2006 12:26:11 AM · #3 |
LOL... yeah... done that before :-)
Actually just remembered Macromedia Flash MX can trace bitmaps... so... wooohooo
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05/10/2006 12:41:58 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by muckpond:
pencil. paper. bright lightbulb. :P |
... Scanner.
Even Illustrator doesn't really turn a photographic image into a "vector" graphic -- the rasterized (pixel) data is merely embedded (encapsulated) within some PostScript commands which allow it to be placed and previewed in another (typically page-layout) program.
True vectors are made up of Bezier Curves defining areas/shapes, and instructions on how to fill those spaces (color, gradient, or pattern). It is designed (as the name implies) to create illustrations, although the format can contain photographic images, it can't really describe them on its own.
Within Photoshop, try taking a high-contrast photo, and running the Find Edges filter on it. Once you've isolated the outlines, select them (try the Magic Wand tool), and once you have the selection, use the Make Work Path command, and the File > Export > Paths to Illustrator to make an Illustrator file.
You should be able to download a trial version of Illustrator to play around with it ... if you have Photoshop, it probably pays to get/upgrade to the entire Creative Suite. |
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05/11/2006 09:40:08 AM · #5 |
| Adobe Streamline will turn any Raster image into Vector :) |
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05/11/2006 10:01:33 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Even Illustrator doesn't really turn a photographic image into a "vector" graphic -- the rasterized (pixel) data is merely embedded (encapsulated) within some PostScript commands which allow it to be placed and previewed in another (typically page-layout) program.
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Actually, Illustrator CS2 does convert them to bezier curves and all that vector goodness. It's a feature called LiveTrace. Of course, that doesn't really help fotomann. |
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05/11/2006 10:50:18 AM · #7 |
Are you wanting to do it yourself via a program or actually have the program do an 'action' and create the vector for you?
You can get photoshop actions than you can run on photos but the outcome is varied. You can use a photograph as a background guide and draw the vector on another layer.
Incidentally if you are wanting to create vectors for selling on stock sites then some of them are picky about making sure you own the copyright on the photograph you start out with.
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05/11/2006 11:29:13 AM · #8 |
CorelDraw has a nifty "trace" feature that can be fine-tuned as to what ti traces and does ot trace, and the ouput is a vector graphic, a line drawing.
R.
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