The world of digital design is  increasingly becoming challenging where every firm seeks to make a stride over competitors.For this redefining the artistic domain, vector tracing offers pertinent solutions. With vector tracing, ordinary designs turn out into versatile and scalable graphics.

Mastering the art of vector taring is essential to enhance the appearance of your overall work.

In this detailed guide, we will bring to you by digitizing usa, we will explore the intricacies of vector tracing. 

Keep reading:

What is Vector Tracing?

Vector tracing is the process of raster image conversion to vector by any kind of vector software. At present,vector tracing is one of the most in-demand techniques that embroidery companies use to seek high-quality graphics to be embroidered on various surfaces. Graphic designers also make wide use of the vector tracing method to reproduce raster images with better results. Before uncovering distinct aspects, it is significant to understand the difference between vector and raster image.

Difference Between Vector and Raster Images

This smallest unit of an image can be called as tiny pixels that constitute raster images. The resolution in "MegaPixel" of a camera of your smartphone talks about the quality and size of pixels, but such pixels have certain dimensions; it also turns out to become the major limitation for any raster-based image. With a definite geometric dimension, raster-based images cannot be stretched or compressed to extreme without losing the quality of the image, which is usually referred to as the "Blurring" effect. This is a major limitation because it makes it difficult for the designers and the embroidery industry to work with raster-based images.

In its most straightforward form, a vector image is composed by the employment of arithmetic lines. Consequently, it can be pulled and stretched to virtually any size without losing much information in the image. In so far as professional work, these are easier and very flexible. The graphic designers and even the embroidery industry prefer it for work because its sizing can be done with no lost quality of image.

Vector Tracing Guide

After grasping the basic difference between vector tracing and raster images, this section reveals the ways of vector tracing. 

First of all, you will need any vector conversion software, like CorelDRAW, that traces the raster image and redraws the vector image. Once you have traced the image, you can easily export the vector file in any of the preferred vector formats like EPS to get it printed without losing the quality of the image.

This process looks simple, but it is not!

Let’s check some details involved in the process of vector tracing. 

How to Use Vector Tracing Software

Some of the most significant vector tracing softwares are as follow: 

CorelDRAW is one of the most-used vector software that millions of cross-industry professionals have preferred to recreate magical vector images. The software comes along with all the prerequisite tools required for vector tracing. In fact, there are multiple ways you can perform vector tracing using CorelDRAW. Let's first get started by seeing how you can perform vector tracing for a logo using the inbuilt intelligence "Vectorization" tool.

Trace an image as a simple vector logo requires opening the "Raster" file in a new document. Once the image will be loaded, go to Bitmaps > Outline Trace. The options come in multiples, though since you're working to trace a logo, an option "Logo" would get you going.

Once you click that "Logo" tab, it will initiate the "PowerTRACE" tool that will automatically analyze the logo file and highlight vector outlines in the form of suggestions. You will also have the "preview" for before and after comparison.

You can use the slider at the right side of the window to fine-tune how much detail you include; it can round out the corners and smooth out any remaining areas. The efforts will be in the fine details for refining the outline according to the complexity of your Logo. The tool is more likely to miss subtle typography, which you may need to refine. Work the outlines around to perfect any refinement and adjustments necessary.

Click the "Colors" tab to see what colors the automated trace tool has picked out. There you can tweak any color as necessary. Again, the ultimate quality of vector tracing will depend on your fine-tuning. While a simple logo wouldprobably be traced perfectly using the tool, you'd have to edit many of the finer details for a more complicated logo.

Once you are done with adjustments, you can simply export the file. To export, you will need to click File > Export. The moment you click "Export," you can choose any of your preferred file formats from the list, such as EPS, CDR, SVG, or others.

In a nutshell, this guide helps you alot in using vector tracing software. The process explained above is not challenging, with little effort but keen analysis, you are set to use the vector tracing software. 

Stay tuned for more guides.