Vector Tool

[SSGK]

Hi

I am looking for information on the following from folks who are familiar with vector graphics:

-- To be able to draw curves and create vector graphics (I have seen some pen tool online tutorial of Illustrator CS2)
-- To convert raster photos into vector objects (I think this can be accomplished by "Live Trace" option of Illustrator CS2)

I think Illustrator CS2 will be the best tool for above. But I also recall few folks mentioning about "Corel Draw 12" on this forum. Can corel Draw do both of the above?

Is anyone familiar with both and can suggest which would make a better choice. I ask this as I see that on Amazon, Corel Draw is priced $99 which is much less than Illustrator.

Appreciate any inputs.

Thanks!

[graficalicus]

I've recently started transitioning to Xara Xtreme from RealDraw -

all I can really say at this point is - DANG! This program ROCKS! Costs less than $100 US, awesome vector output (.eps/wmf/swf + Flash animation, the regular graphics formats) pure vectors. Not much learning curve, if you're already somewhat familiar with this type of application.

It also comes with a photo editor which is rather rudimentary - but I've already got PSE & CS, so that was just a gimme. It does allow you to add bitmap graphics with vectors, though.

One way cool thing is the trace feature, that WILL vectorize your raster image input - and do it pretty dang well - the best one I've used, anyway, and that includes Flash.

Grab the free trial and play with it - you'll like it: (Windows/Linux - the Linux version is Open source!)

Xara Xtreme (http://stats.xaraonline.com/ID.980026/product.XaraXtremeCD/redirectid.XaraXtremeHome/affiliate.html)

(BTW, I liked it so much, I got an affiliation with them - so if you DO buy, go from that link & I'll get credit! :cool: )

[SSGK]

Thanks a lot graficalicus!

I had heard of this but never thought of looking into it...more choices make it more difficult! But as you mention lower price and features can be a big plus for Xara.

I will definetely explore Xara Xtreme and will let you know what I find or if I have any more doubts.

[Jodi Frye]

Well I only use Illustrator so I have no experience with the other programs mentioned...I like it alot !

graficalicus, the raster to vector live trace in Illy gives us 256 colors to work with...what does Xara Extreme give ?

example of Live Trace without further editing...which can be done in Illustrator by using the show paths command in which you can further edit the image in vector format ....( live trace makes it easy to cheat )
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/11y8nPEBkSu6qHI5wD82xF66NfANgM1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=11y8nPEBkSu6qHI5wD82xF66NfANgM1)

[Wendy]

Jodi ...

Wow that is good ... I really must learn how to do that. :)

Wendy

[graficalicus]

they'll all give 256 - I haven't heard of one that goes higher. It's just the nature of bitmap trace.

Xara does provide a ton of options for tracing - smoothing, color scale (monochrome/greyscale/lmited color/photographic) and sliders for smoothness, shape size, noise removal, tolerance....

original image & a default-settings trace attached: i had to resize them for this forum, but the full size ones are in my photobucket:

original (http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/graficalicus/567293_87094232.jpg)

traced (http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/graficalicus/beer1.png)

(Image from stock xchange)

[Jodi Frye]

Wendy, it's quite simple...create a new blank document, then use the file>'place' command...choose a jpeg and uncheck the 'link' button(if you don't unlink it you will have an ' X ' accross your image which signifies that the image is only linked...if you forget to unlink you can unlink it>Window>links, this opens the links palette and then from drop down arrow choose ' embed image'.
When the image gets placed you will now have the 'Live Trace' button at the top of screen...use drop down arrow and choose 'tracing options'...click the 'preview' and play. It's best to start with a smaller jpeg ...longest side at 700 px otherwise the rendering takes longer..once it's a vector it wont matter.

[Wendy]

Thanks Jodi ...

I will go and try that out :)

Wendy

[Pauline]

Grafi, Corel Draw X3 does all that stuff too and comes with a little photo editior. It's a pretty cool little program with lots of power. I haven't had much time to play with it this summer but want to get back into learning once school starts in Sept. and the kids are out of my hair.

[graficalicus]

yeah - I used Draw W-A-Y back. I'm personally boycotting all things Corel these days, though - they hate me & I hate them ;) . Just personal preference.

[Carbone]

I too use CorelDraw and find it very complete. Version 12 (I don't know for X3) came with Corel Trace, a very powerful tracing software.

Ray

[cneuman]

Well we are launching a brand new Adobe Illustrator Techniques magazine at Photoshop World this year, and in an upcoming issue we do cover when NOT to use the Live Trace tool and when to use it. If you just want an image like a JPG or PNG then Live Trace is fine, but if you want a nice, clean vector AI file after using Live Trace, that is going to take some work. Live trace is very generic compared to hand-tracing a photo, which is preferred by most illustrators. The Live Trace adds too many white areas in spaces, too many points on the paths, etc. If you tweak it there are a few cases where it would be useful. It's more like a filter.

I am really excited about the first issue of this magazine, as I am the managing editor and have seen the result of the first issue after all our hard work... it's awesome! We'll have online tutorials (updated at least once a week), videos, downloads, as well as a user gallery and forum, and 8 issues a year. So check it out once we launch it!

Chad

[graficalicus]

sounds cool - -

for a pseudo-vector from PS/PSE, try the cutout filter -

to get it to a real vector, try the cutout filterm then open the result in Xara, Il, whatever and trace it -

could be cool - I'm off to mess with it...

[Wendy]

Chad ...

Thanks for all the information ... sounds as though it will be great. :)

Wendy

[Pauline]

sadly illustrator was just too much for my hobbiest pocket book.
Having seen both the PSE and CS2 magazines, I have no doubt that the Illustrator one would be fabulous.

[Jodi Frye]

Chad, definietly looking forward to it ! Count me in ! ..iow, I better get an email when it's going prime time ;)

[GaryK]

Hi folks

I just found this "open source" vector drawing program.

No idea if it is any good, I really don't know how to draw but I did do a quick try with a clipart image and managed to get something out. :D

For those who might know what they are doing have a look.

http://www.inkscape.org/

If it looks good I can put the link in the links forum.

[graficalicus]

sadly illustrator was just too much for my hobbiest pocket book.

then you DEFINITELY need to try out Xara Xtreme! (http://stats.xaraonline.com/ID.980026/product.XaraXtremeCD/redirectid.XaraXtremeHome/affiliate.html) $79 USD - plenty of vector options, output options, mini photo editor, video tutorials included & automatically updated - - the more I play with it, the more I love it! Grab a free trial and see if it's what you're after.

GaryK: I messed with Inkscape a long time ago, and it didn't really grab me as very intuitive. I know more now than I did then, but if I remember right, it had a clunky interface and was tough to manipulate. It IS free, though - -

[GaryK]

Graffi

Thanks for the info... I had no idea if it was easy to use or not. Wasn't super hard to figure out (but not overly intuitive) but then I also have never tried anything else so nothing to compare to.
Apparently they have added a tracer POVsomething? Again I got it to work with a bit of fiddling (help tuts did help) and I traced a jpg of a clipart spider with just a couple of clicks. It seemed to do the trick for me (like I know what I am doing:D) and like you said the price is fairly reasonable. ;)

[Pauline]

Graffi, not needed. I have Corel Draw x3 and there's more than enough there for me.

[Jodi Frye]

Gary, I like the way you put your words out there...no doubt it is the person behind the program that makes all the difference. Kind of like cave art...those cave drawings are spectacular...look what they had to work with !!!

[SSGK]

Grafi -

How is your Xara Xtreme exploration going on? I downloaded the trial version last week and it seems to be a great vector program...

[graficalicus]

kinda slow lately - I've used it to make a logo for a research project at work:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/graficalicus/IeDEA_Logo180.gif

and only noodled a few other things so far (my sketch dump is here (http://www.graficalicus.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=615))

and a very few xara (http://stats.xaraonline.com/ID.980026/product.XaraXtremeCD/redirectid.XaraXtremeHome/affiliate.html) things are at the end of the thread:
http://www.graficalicus.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=2061#2061 (careful - there's cartoony nekkidness mixed up in there - make sure the kids & the boss ain't about... nothing graphic, but in my illustration style.)

but that's about it so far = = of course I haven't been messing about creatively with any app lately, so it'll come...

What have you done with it? post something!

[SSGK]

Well, I have been just going thru some of the online tutorials and trying to know the tool and its capabilities. I have played with it from the point of view of understanding different tools and options but haven't created anything as such. This is just part of my hobby and not even remotely related to my work...if I get some free time, I visit online forums, tutorials etc etc...Will definetely post if I create something...