Autotrace traces each shape in the bitmap, creating a single path around the detected boundaries of each object in the bitmap. You can adjust the following parameters:
| Noise Reduction | Adjusts the amount of noise that is removed during the tracing process. When None is selected, no noise will be removed. Most removes the maximum amount of noise. | ||
| Original | Less | Most | |
| Corners | Adjusts how strongly corners are traced. When None is selected, corners are not recovered. Most recovers the maximum amount of corners. | ||
| Resolution | Specifies the resolution at which an image is traced. You can trace using the Full resolution of an image or 1/2, 1/4, or 1/8 of its original resolution. At reduced resolutions the tracing process is quicker and produces fewer points, but the quality will not be as accurate. Optimal selects a resolution based on image size to optimize the traces. | ||
| Tolerance | Controls how closely the tracing follows the bitmap being traced. Values are from 0 to 100%. In a high-resolution image, lower values will cause the tracing to follow the bitmap more closely, resulting in jagged edges on the curves. Higher values will produce smoother and more even curves, but some details may be lost. | ||
| Corner Style | Adjusts how recovered corners are drawn. Sharp recovers the maximum amount of sharp corners. | ||
| Color | Specifies the color of the resulting vector objects. | ||
| Reverse Image | Traces white areas. | ||
- From the Main toolbar, select the Autotrace tool.
- From the Bitmap Menu, select Vectorize > Autotrace
- Adjust the tracing parameters in the DesignCentral - Autotrace tab as shown above.
- To trace the entire bitmap or parts of it:
- Click the bitmap to trace one object.
- Click and drag the cursor to create a rectangular bounding box. (Hold Shift to create a square bounding box.) Surround the objects in the bitmap that you want to trace.
- Hold Ctrl and click to trace all of the bitmap.
The objects created by Autotracing will all be wireframes. To fill those objects, you have to select and compound them. See: Compounding Objects
For best results, scan the image to be traced in grayscale (256 gray) at 300-600 DPI. Tracing images scanned at high resolution will create extra points when traced and the paths will not be smooth.