The steps to transform a raster image to a vector image using Live Trace in Illustrator are: 1. Open or place the raster image file into Illustrator. 2. Use the Live Trace command to automatically trace the artwork and control the level of detail. 3. Once the tracing results are satisfactory, convert the tracing object to paths or a Live Paint object by selecting it and clicking Expand, Expand As Viewed, or Live Paint in the Control Panel. Live Trace allows simple and time-saving conversion of raster images to vector graphics but can result in more complex paths than manually tracing. Some preparation and a clear original sketch are needed for best Live Trace results.

1.  Outline the steps to transform raster image to vector image
using Live Trace.

2. In This Chapter, you’ll learn on:
 The steps in creating Live Trace
 The advantages and disadvantages of creating
Live Trace

3. Trace artwork
 If you want to base a new drawing on an existing piece
of artwork, you can trace it. For example, you can
create a graphic based on a pencil sketch drawn on
paper or on a raster image saved in another graphics
program by bringing the graphic into Illustrator and
tracing over it.
Use the Pen Tool and tracing the basic features of the object

4. Trace artwork
 The easiest way to trace artwork is to open or place a
file into Illustrator and automatically trace the artwork
with the Live Trace command. You can control the level
of detail and how the tracing is filled. When you are
satisfied with the tracing results, you can convert the
tracing to vector paths or a Live Paint object.
Before and after tracing a bitmap image with the Live Trace command

5. Convert a tracing object to a Live Paint object
 When you are satisfied with the results of a tracing, you
can convert the tracing object to paths or to a Live
Paint object. This final step allows you to work with the
tracing as you do other vector artwork. Once you
convert the tracing object, you can no longer adjust the
tracing options.
 1. Select the tracing object.
 2. Do one of the following:
o To convert the tracing to paths, click Expand in the Control
panel or choose Object > Live Trace > Expand
o Use this method if you want to work with the components of
the traced artwork as individual objects. The resulting paths
are grouped together.

6. Convert a tracing object to a Live Paint object
 1. Select the tracing object.
 2. Do one of the following:
o To convert the tracing to paths while preserving the current
display options, choose Object > Live Trace > Expand As
Viewed.
o For example, if the display options are set to Outlines for
the tracing result, then the expanded paths will be outlines
only (rather than filled and stroked). In addition, a snapshot
of the tracing with its current display options is preserved
and grouped with the expanded paths. Use this method if
you want to preserve the tracing image as a guide for the
expanded paths.

7. Convert a tracing object to a Live Paint object
 1. Select the tracing object.
 2. Do one of the following:
o •To convert the tracing to a Live Paint object, click Live
Paint in the Control panel or choose Object > Live Trace >
Convert To Live Paint.
o Use this method if you want to apply fills and strokes to the
traced artwork using the Live Paint Bucket tool.
 To create a tracing and convert the tracing object
in one step, choose Object > Live Trace > Make
and Expand or Object > Live Trace > Make And
Convert To Live Paint.

8. Advantages and Disadvantages of Live Trace
 You can turn your sketches into vector graphics by using live
trace to create the vector lines, vector points on top of your
sketch with the pen tool using the sketch as a reference, or by
using a Wacom tablet. Each one of them has their own
advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
 Live trace is the simplest and perfect for beginners
to vector graphics.
 Time saving, since it takes hours and sometimes
days to create a vector graphic, whereas live trace
only requires a few minutes

9. Disadvantages:
 Most live trace graphics have more lines and are a
bit busier than the free hand vector graphics. Free
hand vector graphics look a bit cleaner, as they
usually have fewer lines.
 Still a lot of work in involved in pepping up an image
before using live trace to make the vector graphic
interesting and attractive.
 Need to put in a lot of effort in original sketching if it
is to be vectored using live trace.