JPG To Vector

Vector images and graphics are the most optimal way of converting raster images into a vector format.

One of the basic reasons for converting raster images into a vector is because the vector images can easily be rescaled and resized without ever pixelating or compromising the quality of the image.

Generally, you may find vector images in website design, graphic designs and marketing posters, and banners.

Even though vector images are meant to be created from scratch. However, there are image editing programs as well from where you can modify or convert JPG to Vector image format.

The following will be a step-by-step guide to convert JPG to vector format with the use of Adobe Illustrator.

Converting JPG to Vector Using Adobe Illustrator

1: Open Illustrator

Illustrator is an image creation programming software for professional designers. It’s also the first choice of converting JPG into vector images.

2: Choose the image that needs to be vectorized

In this step, the selected image will activate the tracing option in the tracing panel.

3: Drag and Drop the JPG file to the Illustrator

Now drag and drop the intended JPG file to the Illustrator, in order so it can be processed further to convert into vector form.

4: Switch to Tracing mode

In order to convert from image to vector format, you have to change your workplace to “Tracing” mode. When you turned on the tracing mode, you’d see the “Image Trace” panel appear.

5: “Preview” the image in the Image Tracing panel

This option will enable you to view the image when you made different changes on the JPG image file. However, previewing the image will take a considerable amount of your time.

6: Image Trace panel has preset to choose from

There are five basic presets in the Illustrator for you to make a choice of. There are furthermore presets options in the preset drop down menu. The most common preset options are,

Default: Usually all the images are vectorized in this format. This is an original version of the image.

High Fidelity Photo: This mode strives to recreate all of the original colors.

Low Fidelity Photo: This mode attempts to recreate a simpler version of the original colors.

Grayscale: It is meant to replace the original colors with shades of gray.

Black & White: It restricts the image to the colors of black and white.

7: Fine-tuning the color complexity

Many time images that are vectorized don’t quite render a good quality of color from the original image. Therefore, there is an option of a color slider which can change the color tone of an image for the better.

8: There’s also an “Advanced” Section

For more detailed options and features, click on the “Advanced” bar

9: Use Paths Slider to Sharpen or Smoothen the edges

This mode is used to apply changes and modifications to the paths to follow the pixels. Sliding the path to the low will make pixels to be closer to each other and makes the edges smoother. Sliding to the high will make the edges sharper, as the pixels will be distant from each other.

10: Usage of “Corners” Slider

Sliding the Corner bar to the right will make the corners pointy and moving it to the left will make it curvier and smoother.

11: “Noise” slider to mitigate blurriness

The purpose of Noise slider is to detect and smooth out rough and pixelated edges which are also called noise.

12: When You’re Done, Click on “Trace”

This will initiate the tracing sequence. That would take several minutes in order to be completed.

13: Select “Expand” to Convert JPG to Vector

This option will finally convert your image that you traced into a vector format and your JPG will now be turned into a vector.

14: Export it as a vector file format

When you are done with the tracing of the JPG image, you would now be able to export it as a vector file. In order to save the file in vector format, click on the file or the Illustrator menu and click on “Save As.” Then, save that vector file in .ai file format as it would let you modify it again when you open the file later. You could also select a vector file format from the “Save as Type” menu. The formats include SVG for websites and web pages and PDF format for printing purposes.

And it goes without saying, when you have already converted your JPG to vector file format, you don’t need to save the file in JPG or PNG format again.