Photoshop to Illustrator question

DM
Posted By
Dan_Muller
May 1, 2005
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621
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13
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I created a logo for a project that our foundation is doing. I created it in PS6. I plan to have t-shirts made. The company I am considering for the job needs the PS6 file saved as an EPS in a vector format. Then it needs all the outlines done in the vector file.

I plan to use Illustrator 10. The logo is multicolor and fairly complex. I can provide a link to it if needed. I hate to let my ignorance hang out, but can I get some help with the steps needed to make this happen. I can submit the image as a PSD, and they will have their GAs do the work for $50-$100, depending on complexity, but what would I learn doing it that way? Thanks for the assistance.
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DM
Don_McCahill
May 1, 2005
Basically you will open the PS file as a background in Illustrator, and then trace out the vectors. It is going to take an hour or two to convert (which is why you were given that estimate of the cost of conversion). If it was simple, they would have done it for free.

Don McCahill

PS: Logos always should be done in Illustrator … you can bring an AI logo into Photoshop with little or no work.
C
Corey
May 1, 2005
Depending on the resolution of your PSD file, you may be able to make a selection of the main parts of the logo and create a custom shape, which would be a vector shape. The higher the resolution, the better. Ideally, you should’ve originally created the logo in Illustrator, further tweaking in Photoshop for the Web or something.

To create a custom shape, you would need to make a selection using the selection tool of your choice (Magic Wand, Marquee, Lasso, etc.) and then Open the Paths Palette. Click the tiny triangle in the upper right corner and choose "Make Work Path." This will convert the selection to a vector path. From here, go to Edit > Define Custom Shape and name the shape. Shapes can easily be copied and pasted into Illustrator from Photoshop.

Peadge 🙂

wrote in message
I created a logo for a project that our foundation is doing. I created it
in PS6. I plan to have t-shirts made. The company I am considering for the job needs the PS6 file saved as an EPS in a vector format. Then it needs all the outlines done in the vector file.
I plan to use Illustrator 10. The logo is multicolor and fairly complex. I
can provide a link to it if needed. I hate to let my ignorance hang out, but can I get some help with the steps needed to make this happen. I can submit the image as a PSD, and they will have their GAs do the work for $50-$100, depending on complexity, but what would I learn doing it that way? Thanks for the assistance.
BH
Bobby_Henderson
May 1, 2005
For vectorization, I would also recommend using Illustrator. Lock the raster image or scan down on one layer and then build clean vectors above it on another layer.

Photoshop can also get a good amount of vectorization work completed, depending on the nature of the art work. If the art work is technical in nature then Illustrator is best to use. The tools in Photoshop can work well for more "organic" stuff.

For instance, I very much prefer how the pen tool works in Photoshop than how it does in Illustrator. Using the Ctrl, Alt, Shift and Space bar keys I can adjust a path on the fly while I’m still drawing it. I can do my screen zooming and hand panning at the same time -all without going to the toolbar. Normally, one uses this method for drawing out clipping paths. But it can work well for creating a lot of high quality vector objects. Photoshop also has the advantage of faster screen refreshing while digitizing. Tracing above bitmaps in Illustrator can be a bit slower. When you’re finished with the paths, just go to File>Export>Paths to Illustrator.

For quick and dirty stuff, I’ll sometimes take a high rez scan, use the color range dialog to create a selection and then use the "make work path" function. This can work pretty well for black and white "camera ready" art. Plus the work path gives you fully closed paths. No open line segments.

I agree with Don, logos and other graphical items of that sort should normally be created as 100% vector-based items. It is MUCH easier to take a logo created in Illustrator and dress it up with all sorts of shadowing effects and such in Photoshop than to do things in reverse.

Vector-based logos will print at the maximum resolution of whatever output device is printing it (be that an image setter, large format printer, etc.).

Vector-based logos are also much more flexible in the types of applications that can handle them. Screenprinters prefer vector-based artwork. Same for embroidery shops. Sign companies will almost always request vector-based files. You can’t take a bitmap-based piece of artwork directly to a vinyl cutter or computer controlled routing table.

If you’re only getting charged $50 to $100 for the vectorization work, then you may be getting a bargain -but then that also depends on how well the firm gets the job done. Some companies may have to charge hundreds of dollars to take a raster logo and digitize it with good, polished results.
B
BobLevine
May 1, 2005
The new Illustrator CS2 has a fabulous tools for doing this. Live Trace and Live Paint.

Bob
BH
Bobby_Henderson
May 2, 2005
I’m looking forward to using the Live Trace and Live Paint tools, particularly from the standpoint of building fast comps in dealing with customer provided artwork.

A decade ago, if a person brought in a floppy disc with a logo on it chances are it would have been some kind of vector-based file like EPS, Illustrator or CorelDRAW. These days, 9 times out of 10 the customer will e-mail us a JPEG. Then you have to try to explain the raster versus vector thing to them without completely confusing them.

In the end, I still think finished quality logo creation and recreation will require careful, manual building and editing of vector artwork. Auto-tracing systems are pretty capable but they’re not perfect.
TH
Tom_Harkaway
May 8, 2005
I am a brand new Illustrator 11 user. I have a bit-map image that I would like to Trace to create a vector file. I have read about the Trace command but I cannot find the tool itself anywhere. The help file simply says to use the Trace tool, but I cannot find the icon it is referring to. Is it a standard feature or is it an add-in?

Tom
B
BobLevine
May 8, 2005
Illustrator CS2 or version 12 has a new feature called live trace.

Post in the Illustrator forum for more attention.

Bob
DM
dave_milbut
May 8, 2005
dammit! stop making me want to upgrade illy too, bob! 🙂
B
BobLevine
May 9, 2005
It’s an amazing tool. Combine it with live paint and you can turn raster art to vector art in a hurry.

You know you want it! <g>

Bob
DM
dave_milbut
May 9, 2005
You know you want it! <g>

I had 8 full and upgraded to 9 but never really used it. I figure i might if the auto trace works as well as i’ve heard and would give me a head start on creating vectors. Erm, maybe I need to think about WHY I would want vectors… 🙂
B
BobLevine
May 9, 2005
Dave,

I don’t really know what kind of work you do, but Illy and PS work incredibly well together.

For instance, you can start a project in Illy. You can then save it as a PSD file and all layers and vectors, including text will be retained when you open it in Photoshop for any finishing touches you need to do.

Bob
DM
dave_milbut
May 9, 2005
I don’t really know what kind of work you do,

dammit jim, i’m a programmer, not a doctor! 🙂

I do mostly screen work, but am starting to get into printing out to my oly dye sub with awesome results (thanks to everything i’ve learned here!). still i usually only work on photos. strictly hobby. probably doesn’t warrent an illy upgrade. 🙁
BH
Bobby_Henderson
May 10, 2005
"Erm, maybe I need to think about WHY I would want vectors…"

If you do any paid logo design work for people you really need to build them up in vector form. Otherwise you will be costing those folks money down the road when they take the raster-based file to any number of ad specialty companies for things like signs, window graphics, t-shirts, embroidery, engraving, etc.

Vector graphics are also resolution independent. You can scale a vector logo up to the size of a building without any loss of quality. It’s just a more efficient approach for a great deal of graphic art.

Must-have mockup pack for every graphic designer 🔥🔥🔥

Easy-to-use drag-n-drop Photoshop scene creator with more than 2800 items.

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