In Illustrator, Live Trace (now Image Trace) converts raster images into editable vectors using presets, modes, and the Expand command.
Live Trace used to be a panel in older releases; today the same job lives in Image Trace. The goal is the same: take a pixel image and turn it into paths you can edit, recolor, and scale. This guide walks through a clean workflow that avoids jagged edges, messy groups, and bloated files.
Quick Setup And Preset Choices
Start by placing your image (File > Place), select it, then open Window > Image Trace. Pick a preset that matches the subject, then fine-tune. Use this table as a cheat sheet before you run a trace.
| Preset | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| High Fidelity Photo | Detailed photos | Many colors; larger file; smooth color blends |
| Low Fidelity Photo | Simple photos | Fewer colors; smaller file; posterized look |
| 3 Colors | Flat icons | Hard-edged art; quick recolor later |
| 6 Colors | Logos with few tones | Good balance of detail and editability |
| 16 Colors | Illustrations | More tone steps without huge path counts |
| Shades of Gray | Drawings, scans | Continuous tone without color cleanup |
| Black and White Logo | Ink art, marks | Clean edges; control with Threshold |
| Sketched Art | Pencil/pen scans | Retains hand-drawn vibe; moderate cleanup |
| Line Art | Technical linework | Thin strokes; best with high-res scans |
How to Live Trace in Illustrator: Step-By-Step
Use this process when you want a trace you can edit without surprises.
1) Prepare The Image
Open the raster in Photoshop or a similar editor if needed. Crop extra background, bump contrast, and remove dust. Save as JPG or PNG. A crisp source gives cleaner paths with fewer nodes.
2) Place And Select
In Illustrator, choose File > Place and drop the image on its own layer. With the image selected, the Image Trace controls become active.
3) Choose A Preset
In the Properties panel or Image Trace panel, pick a preset that matches your artwork. For a one-color logo, start with Black and White Logo. For photos, try High Fidelity Photo and adjust.
4) Tweak Basic Options
Switch Mode to Color, Grayscale, or Black and White. Set Palette to Full Tone or Limited as needed. Use Colors or Threshold to steer detail. For a full breakdown of what each control does, see Adobe’s Image Trace panel options.
5) Refine With Advanced Controls
Paths raises or lowers curve accuracy. Corners sharpens angles. Noise removes tiny specks. Use Ignore White for transparent backgrounds on black-only art. If edges look jaggy, nudge Paths up; if shapes look lumpy, nudge it down.
6) Expand To Editable Paths
When the preview looks right, click Expand to convert the trace into real vector shapes. You can ungroup, edit with the Direct Selection tool, and recolor with Recolor Artwork. Adobe’s step-by-step on converting images to vector with Image Trace covers the Expand step in detail.
7) Clean Up And Name
Ungroup once, combine shapes that belong together, and name layers for sanity. Delete stray bits you don’t need. If path counts ballooned, try Object > Path > Simplify with a light touch.
Live Trace In Illustrator: Workflow Tips That Save Time
Pick The Right Starting Mode
Color mode is best for photos and illustrations. Grayscale keeps tone steps without hue cleanup. Black and White is the go-to for ink scans and marks where you need crisp edges.
Use Threshold Like A Volume Knob
On Black and White, a low Threshold drops faint pixels and thins strokes; a higher setting fills gaps but can choke fine detail. Slide until shapes lock in without blotches.
Control Path Count
Paths and Corners push detail. Too high, and your file feels heavy; too low, and curves look soft. Aim for smooth edges with the smallest node count that still matches the art.
Keep Noise Small
Noise tells Illustrator to ignore tiny specks. A value of 1–3 px cleans lint from scans. If you lose tiny dots you care about, drop the value and retest.
Trace On A Copy
Keep the original image on a hidden layer. If you go too far with Expand or Simplify, you can toggle back or retrace without re-placing files.
Core Panel Settings (Plain-English Meaning)
The Image Trace panel has a lot of sliders. Here’s what the core ones do in practice so you can set them with purpose.
Mode
Color captures hue and tone; Grayscale keeps lightness only; Black and White uses a single edge threshold to decide what becomes black vector and what drops out.
Palette And Colors
Palette controls how Illustrator chooses colors. With Full Tone, it samples many hues; with limited palettes, you set a maximum number of colors for easier editing later.
Paths And Corners
Paths increases fidelity to the source. Corners strengthens angles and corners. Use them together until the preview looks crisp, then stop; more isn’t always better.
Noise And Ignore White
Noise filters out specks under the set size. Ignore White drops white fills so only the black shapes remain—handy when you need transparent backgrounds.
Real-World Scenarios And Settings
Clean One-Color Logos
Pick Black and White Logo, set Threshold so the mark closes cleanly, set Paths around the middle, Corners a touch up, Noise 1–2 px, and enable Ignore White if you want transparency.
Sketches And Linework
Use Sketched Art or Line Art. Scan at 300–600 dpi before tracing. If strokes close up, drop Threshold and raise Noise slightly.
Posters And Flat Graphics
Start with 3, 6, or 16 Colors. If you need fewer swatches for branding, limit the color count and clean flat shapes with Pathfinder after Expand.
Photos With Many Tones
High Fidelity Photo keeps gradients. Expect heavier files; plan cleanup by merging small shapes and simplifying edges that don’t change the look.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Tracing low-res images and expecting sharp curves
- Expanding too early and losing access to panel settings
- Cranking Paths to the max and bloating the file
- Leaving white fills that block backgrounds instead of using Ignore White
- Forgetting to save a copy before heavy edits
Troubleshooting: Fast Fixes That Work
If results look off, use the quick cures below.
| Issue | What To Try | Where In UI |
|---|---|---|
| Jagged edges | Bump Paths a bit; lower Corners | Image Trace > Advanced |
| Holes in shapes | Raise Threshold or Colors | Image Trace > Basic |
| Speckled noise | Increase Noise to 2–3 px | Image Trace > Advanced |
| Too many tiny pieces | Lower Colors; Simplify after Expand | Image Trace > Basic / Object > Path |
| White boxes on top | Enable Ignore White | Image Trace > Advanced |
| Can’t edit paths | Click Expand to finalize | Image Trace panel |
| Wrong color palette | Switch Palette; use Recolor Artwork | Image Trace > Basic / Properties |
Finish Work: Expand, Recolor, Export
After Expand, select groups with the Direct Selection tool and merge tiny slivers with Pathfinder where needed. Use Recolor Artwork to swap swatches to brand colors. Save as AI for editing, and export SVG, PDF, or EPS as the job needs.
Handy Notes For Common Tasks
Live Trace Name Change
The name changed. The workflow lives in Image Trace with presets and the Expand step. If you were searching how to live trace in illustrator, this is the modern path.
Ideal Image Size
Big enough that edges look clean—scans at 300–600 dpi work well. You can downsample later; a crisp source saves time.
Keep The Original Photo
Yes—keep it on a hidden layer under the trace for reference. If settings go sideways, you can retrace fast.
One Last Checklist Before You Hit Save
- Image on its own layer and selected
- Preset matches the subject
- Mode set correctly (Color, Grayscale, or Black and White)
- Paths/Corners balanced for clean edges
- Noise removes lint without erasing real dots
- Expand only when preview looks right
- Clean up groups, then Simplify lightly if needed
If your goal was how to live trace in illustrator for a logo, start with the Black and White preset, keep Threshold modest, and turn on Ignore White to get instant transparency.
With this workflow, you get smooth vectors, lean files, and a repeatable method you can run on logos, sketches, posters, and photos without guesswork.