How to Convert a JPG Into Vector Art Using Adobe Illustrator

If you work with vector artwork, it's important to know how to transform other file types into vectors. This can be helpful if you're designing websites or creating print materials. You can easily transform files like JPEGs, TIFFs and BMPs into vectors for editing, website use and printing.

In this article, we'll discuss the definitions of JPG and vector images and share 10 simple steps that you can follow to learn how to convert JPG to vector images in Adobe Illustrator.

What is JPG?

JPG is a file format that references compressed images. This is a very common file type, especially for digital images from cameras and operating systems. These files usually have high resolution and image quality, which makes them ideal for printing, realistic painting and editing purposes. Because JPG is so common, many professionals use JPG images to start designing and editing projects, and then export them into different file types to suit their needs.

What is a vector image?

A vector image is a file format that establishes points on the grid to make the image look sharper. Usually, vector images have a clear background. These images are helpful for graphic design and presentation projects because they integrate well with whatever background they are placed in. For example, if a graphic designer wants to print a logo on a black T-shirt, they might make the logo a vector so that it can appear without a white background to make it print better on a shirt.

Another key feature of vector images is that they can expand and contract without compromising image quality, making them more versatile than other image types.

How do I convert JPG to vector in Illustrator

You can choose to convert the JPG to a vector image for higher quality photos that are more suitable for scaling and printing. To convert a JPG file to a vector using Adobe Illustrator, follow these simple steps:

1. Open Adobe Illustrator

To open Adobe Illustrator, find its icon on the start page of your computer or type a program name in the search box on the bottom toolbar of your laptop. Once you find it, double-click the icon to launch the program. Once you see the Illustrator start page, select the option to start a new project. This will open a blank workspace.

2. Insert the JPG image you want to convert

You can get started by selecting the JPG image you want to convert to a vector. To do this, select File, which you can find in the upper left corner of the Illustrator toolbar. Clicking this button summons a drop-down menu. From this menu, select Open to prompt you to open the window in the My Computer TAB. You can also open this TAB using the quick keys "Ctrl" and "O" on your Windows device. From here, you can select the JPG to save on your computer.

3. Select Trace Workspace

Once you've added the image, switch to Illustrator's Trace workspace. To do this, select the Window option located near the top left corner of the screen. Then select Workspace, which prompts another drop-down menu. In this menu, click Trace. You might find it near the middle of the list of options in this menu. Selecting this option will switch the workspace to accommodate subsequent steps.

4. Select JPG

Next, select the JPG by hovering your cursor over it and double-clicking it. After selecting an image, you can summon its image Settings. Check the Preview option in the trace window to see the changes displayed as they are made. Alternatively, you can wait until you are finished adjusting the image Settings, but this option allows you to monitor progress as you work and make changes as needed.

5. Adjust color complexity

In the same tracing window, you can adjust the color complexity Settings for the image. You may want to do this because when the image becomes a vector, the image usually cannot retain the same color as the original image. You can reduce the number of colors displayed in the vector by adjusting the sliding scale in the tracing window. This gives your vector a flatter appearance.

6. Adjust pixels

Under the Color Complexity level, you can find the advanced Settings option. Select this option to summon more detailed controls. From this menu, you can find the "Path" setting. This setting changes how the edges of the image are displayed by adjusting how close the edges of the vector are to the pixels of the image. Lost paths can help you achieve smoother edges to the image

7. Change the Settings to adjust the edges

Use other Settings to adjust the edges of the image. This can help your vectors look cleaner. First, use the "corner" sliding scale to determine how rounded you want the edge to be. You can find this ratio under the "Paths" section. You can then find the Noise slider below the Corner slider. Adjusting this scale changes the way the pixels in the image are grouped together. Reducing the noise of the image reduces the number of pixels that appear outside the tracing section.

8. View the changes

Click Trace to view your changes. You can find this option in the lower right corner of the trace window. This causes the area around the photo to turn gray. This lets you see the changes you've made so far and make changes as needed. Repeat steps 5 through 7 until the image appears as expected.

9. Click "Expand"

Once you are satisfied with your changes, select Expand. You can find this option below the Help TAB at the top of the Illustrator toolbar. Expanding the image tracks the image and creates a vector path. This converts it to a vector image for you to save.

10. Save the image as a vector

To save and export vector images, select the File TAB and hover over Save As. It helps to save the image twice. First, as an "Ai" file type, it is a file for an Adobe Illustrator application. Saving the Ai image allows you to revisit the project and make changes. To save the image, type the file name in the top search bar, and then select the file type from the text bar below the file name.

To save as a vector, you can choose between two file types, depending on what purpose you want to use the image for. To save it for your web site, select a file of type SVG. To save it for printing, select the document document type. After you have finished the second save and changed the file type to a vector, select "Save" to finish the job.