Autotrace Images

Turn a linked or embedded image into editable paths.

Activate an Image

Double-click a linked or embedded image with a Vextra tool. With Double-Click to Activate Path off, a single spare click activates it instead.

Activating the image clears the selection from every other object, and activating a path afterwards clears the image selection. This keeps the image from taking over while you edit the trace.

With Vextra Editor active, drag the image to move it.

Run Autotrace

While an image is active, an Autotrace button appears at the far right of the second command row.

Click it, and Vextra:

  1. Reads the image.
  2. Builds paths at the same position and orientation as the image.
  3. Adds nodes at the left, right, top, and bottom extremes.
  4. Creates ordinary Illustrator path artwork.
  5. Clears the image selection.
  6. Activates the new paths with Vextra Editor.

The original image stays in the document.

Edit the Trace

The traced path is ready right away. Move its nodes, clean up extra points, add Smart Corners, or redraw a section with the Pencil.

Useful cleanup tools:

  • Optimizer for one rough span.
  • Soft Eraser for conservative point removal.
  • Simplify for a larger selected area.
  • Nodes at Extremes after a substantial manual change.

If the Button Is Missing

Autotrace appears only while a supported image is active.

Check that you activated the image itself rather than a path beside it, and that the image is visible and unlocked.

For more about choosing paths and images, see Artwork & Activation.