The Levels adjustments done in the previous step will help tremendously with the success of the conversion. Live Trace is a command that automatically converts a raster image into vectors.

Select the pasted image, and in the properties bar along the top, a Live Trace button will appear. One is an automatic conversion process and the other is a manual process. Here in Illustrator we will explore two different methods of creating vector artwork from these sketches.

Switch over to Illustrator and paste the sketch onto the canvas. Select the entire canvas, then use CTRL+C or Cmd+C to copy the sketch to the Clipboard. This will help you ensure that the paper is 100% white, which is important later. The same thing works for the Shadows slider. As you slide the Highlights slider toward the middle, the preview area will turn white for every pixel that turns completely white. Hint: Hold down Alt or Option, then click on the Highlights slider and the preview in the Levels dialog box will change, turning black for every pixel that isn’t completely white. Also be sure to erase any lines that aren’t part of the final artwork. The goal is to whiten the paper until it is completely white and darken the pencil lines for easier conversion later. Increase both the Shadows and the Highlights. Select the favorite sketches out of the bunch and crop them into their own files.Īt this point, adjust the Levels. Open the sketch pages inside of Photoshop. Scanning at a resolution of at least 400dpi gives the best definition to some of the smaller sketch lines. The next step is to scan the sketch pages. We will give them better definition inside of Illustrator. The first step is to sharpen those pencils, get out the paper and start sketching! Just get all your ideas out and onto the page.

Here I will outline two different ways to turn your sketches into vector art. Sometimes it can be hard to transfer those sketch ideas into vector art. When creating new illustrations, brainstorming often happens by sketching using paper and pencil. By Shutterstock Contributor Karl Rosencrants

Sketch to vector illustrator