Source Artwork

Choose source objects that give Linestra a clear tonal and color signal.

Vexy Linestra works with placed and embedded raster images, ordinary paths, compound paths, groups, and text. It reads the object's current visible appearance rather than requiring a specific file type.

What the Plug-in Samples

Before generating vector geometry, the plug-in rasterizes the selected object's Live Effect input in memory. It evaluates:

  • Relative luminance: darker areas create stronger density.
  • Alpha: transparent areas contribute less than opaque areas.
  • RGB color: used when Dynamic Color is enabled.
  • The object's visible geometry and a calculated transparent margin around it.

The longest rasterized dimension is capped at 1024 pixels. Larger Illustrator objects keep their document dimensions, but the analysis signal uses this performance-conscious resolution.

Linestra calculates extra sampling space from the selected fill, Thickness, Spacing, Organic displacement, Dynamic Color requirements, and antialiasing allowance. Pixels beyond the source are transparent rather than repeated or blended with black. This lets marks narrow and end naturally near an edge before the fill's final clipping rules are applied.

Placed and Embedded Images

Photographs with a clear subject, useful contrast, and visible midtones usually produce the strongest results. Very noisy images can create unnecessarily complex vector output. Soft low-contrast photographs may need Levels, Curves, or other Illustrator adjustments below the Linestra effect.

Linked files remain linked as source artwork. The Linestra effect stays in the Illustrator document's appearance and regenerates when Illustrator updates the source.

Vector Artwork and Text

Vector fills, gradients, strokes, transparency, and effects below Linestra contribute to the sampled signal. A flat single-color shape has little internal variation, so many fills produce a mostly uniform pattern. Gradients, layered shapes, or existing appearance effects create richer modulation.

Live text can be used as a source. Keep it live if you want to edit the wording later; Linestra regenerates from the updated appearance.

Groups and Multiple Selection

A group is treated as one source with one combined visible bound. Multiple separately selected objects receive their own Live Effect instances.

If you want several objects to behave as a single signal, group them before applying Linestra.

Transparency and Backgrounds

Fully transparent regions should not generate density. A white opaque background and a transparent background are not identical: both may look empty in a monochrome result, but alpha and sampled color differ.

Preparing Difficult Sources

  • Increase tonal separation with Illustrator effects below Linestra.
  • Crop or mask irrelevant background areas.
  • Group layers that should be analyzed together.
  • Use a larger Spacing value when a noisy source creates too many paths.
  • Keep a copy of the untouched source during experimentation.

Next, learn how the generated result uses paint in Color & Appearance.