7 Replies Latest reply: Mar 6, 2010 8:19 PM by JennyatSS RSS

    Convert to Path

    rlinsurf1 Community Member

      I have a black and white image, where I've removed the background so it's just black on transparent. I'd like to convert it to a path for use in IL. Is there a way to do this?

        • 1. Re: Convert to Path
          Junk Mailer Community Member

          Make a selection and click the button on the bottom of the Paths panel

          called "Make Work Path from Selection". It won't be the smoothest path,

          but it will put you in the ball park. You can then select that path and

          copy/paste into Illustrator.

           

          -JM

          • 2. Re: Convert to Path
            rlinsurf1 Community Member

            Ah. I kind of need it pretty close to the original. Can this be better done in IL?

            • 3. Re: Convert to Path
              Junk Mailer Community Member

              You could try using Live Trace in Illustrator. It might produce better

              results, but still be prepared to clean it up further after you perform

              the trace. The results still are far from perfect.

               

              -JM

              • 4. Re: Convert to Path
                rlinsurf1 Community Member

                Didn't there used to be a program Adobe made to convert any image to curves. It had a train or something as it's splashscreen. Wasn't that ultimately incorporated into IL at some point?

                 

                EDITED: BTW, what format should I export out of PS to bring it in to do that work in IL?

                • 5. Re: Convert to Path
                  c.pfaffenbichler Community Member

                  You may be referring to Streamline and Illustrator’s Live Trace is the replacement.

                   

                  If You are willing to do it manually Photoshop’s Path Tool is quite sufficient.

                  The Path could be exported as Paths to Illustrator, but copying/pasting works fine.

                  • 6. Re: Convert to Path
                    BearHNC Community Member

                    Make sure you have yor layer mask selected, and then go to your paths palette and then go to "Make path from Selection." That is one way however depend on how good your origianl mask is your path could be iffy. I better solution for what it seems you are trying to do is.

                     

                    Bring that layer or B&W image into Illustrator then click on live trace when you have your image selected this will create a vector image out of your image Then hit the the expand button and that will break everything up into paths so that you can remove the white and have a vector path.

                    I think that is what you are asking for.

                    Hope it helps,

                    Cheers

                    • 7. Re: Convert to Path
                      JennyatSS Community Member

                      I use a plug in called Mask Pro.  It will convert a selection (made from your silhoetted layer) to a path but the points are set without bezier arms so if your settings really hug the selection tight you'll get many many MANY points.  Some printers and prepress houses don't like a lot of points because it's slows down their software.  But even with that I've been very happy with the paths I get from Mask Pro for my own use.

                       

                      sry, meant to reply to orig post...