Contour Cutting Workflow in Onyx
Conversion Raster file to Vector file, using Illustrator
Sample Workflow : Convert raster to vector
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Sample : How to convert a raster file to a vector
file and colour it, using Illustrator CS3.
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Vector files can be easily enlarged without quality
loss (stair casing).
Vector files have smaller file sizes.
Easier to define cut paths for contour cutting.
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Start with a monochrome image
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The sample starts with a low resolution monochrome
image.
The sample workflow applies to paper images, scan
them to a file.
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Open the file in Illustrator (sample : Chicken)
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Open the raster file in Illustrator
For pdf files optional clean up file :
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Select All (control-A)
Object -> Compound Path -> Release
Ungroup (object->ungroup)
Down sample to 72 dpi
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72 dpi is enough for most rasterizations
Higher resolution may result in too many small vectors
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Search Vector paths via Live Trace
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Start Live Trace to detect vectors
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Select the Threshold to get a clean image
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The image already appears to have smooth vectors
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The image is not yet a vector image until expanded
It has special features to help painting
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Prepare the image for colouring
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Set the tracing options to colour
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Enter the Live Paint mode to start colouring
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Select the live paint bucket tool
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Paint the Image
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For painting the fills or vectors can be coloured
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Add swatches to define the colours
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Start Painting
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Move the Live Paint Bucket tool to the area which
should be filled :
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The fill area is shown by red lines
Click to fill the area
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Gaps in the image
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Gaps may be present, thus ‘leaking’ the fill colour to
unwanted areas
Gap Present,
causes a ‘leak’
Leaking /
Overflow
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Close the Gap
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Solution : Ignore gaps
Use the Gap Options
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Now the gap will be ‘ignored’
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Note the gap is not filled!
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Continue the colouring
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Continue colouring until the image is complete
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Finally : Select Expand button to convert image to a
regular Illustrator file
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Finish the Vectorisation
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After the Expand button, the Live Paint Bucket can
not be used anymore. All is ‘back to normal’
The chicken is now a 100% vector Image
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Before and After
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Before :
Monochrome raster,
low resolution
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After :
Colour Vector
Resolution independend
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