[jersey]

Hello all,

I have about 10 intricate maps that need to be traced, besides doing them inch by inch with the pen tool, is there a quicker way, like using some feature in live trace, that I may be missing?

thanks,

-j

[himself]

Which version of illustrator?

[Super Glitcher]

Live Trace could be a good option, but you'll need
to take into account the resolution of the image that
you're starting with and how geometric it is.
The output from Live Trace can noticeable vary
over large geometric images so there may be some
areas that just have to be rebuilt by hand. Overall
though it's a great start...

[jersey]

Originally Posted by himself

Which version of illustrator?

cs2

[production_coordinator]

What types of maps? If they are topographical maps... I don't think live trace is going to work.

[jersey]

Originally Posted by Super Glitcher

Live Trace could be a good option, but you'll need
to take into account the resolution of the image that
you're starting with and how geometric it is.
The output from Live Trace can noticeable vary
over large geometric images so there may be some
areas that just have to be rebuilt by hand. Overall
though it's a great start...

I think I'll start there, if I can make it conform.

If I spend more than 5 hours trying to get it calibrated, I may just do it by hand...

[jersey]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

What types of maps? If they are topographical maps... I don't think live trace is going to work.

I misspoke. Maps they are not, but building plans.

Although, topographical maps would probably be interesting after live trace got to them.

[Super Glitcher]

Building plans? What's the end purpose of the files
you're creating?

Have you really really really really tried to get the
cad files and failed miserably? To do that kind of
detail it's likely going to be by hand... time to
bust out the smart-guides/snap to grid combo hot
keys.... and a lot of coffee

[art_director]

Life's too short to spend any of it tracing that stuff. Get the CAD files.

[Super Glitcher]

c'mon - it's like eating fiber, you don't want too,
but it's healthy, builds character & gets you paid...
(if there's no possible way of getting the cad files)

[jersey]

ah....no cad files... the buildings being used were around way before cad.

I doing this as a freelance project for a fine art print shop. They need to be traced, so they can be etched by laser into plexi.

[th3ph17]

now Thats laser printing.

[art_director]

Originally Posted by jersey

ah....no cad files... the buildings being used were around way before cad.

I doing this as a freelance project for a fine art print shop. They need to be traced, so they can be etched by laser into plexi.

Bummer. Good luck and remember to bill for pain.

[Super Glitcher]

I've got access to a Universal 50watt co2 laser if you need it,
but you'll have make the ai file yerself! ;-)

[himself]

Originally Posted by jersey

cs2

I don't have Illy CS2 yet myself, but supposedly there is a new bitmap-to-vector trace feature (and I don't mean Auto Trace) in the latest version. I assume that there is some documentation about the feature either in the help section or on the Adobe web site.

[Super Glitcher]

It's called LiveTrace.. basically insert Streamline into illustrator and
that's what it is. It's seems a little more accurate to me & has more
options - but it's basically the same thing.

And yea, it's all over the feature briefs on CS2....