Illustrator

Convert a tracing object to a Live Paint object

When you are satisfied with the results of a tracing, you can convert the tracing object to paths or to a Live Paint object. This final step allows you to work with the tracing as you do other vector artwork. Once you convert the tracing object, you can no longer adjust the tracing options.

  1. Select the tracing object.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • To convert the tracing to paths, click Expand in the Control panel or choose Object > Live Trace > Expand. Use this method if you want to work with the components of the traced artwork as individual objects. The resulting paths are grouped together.

    • To convert the tracing to paths while preserving the current display options, choose Object > Live Trace > Expand As Viewed. For example, if the display options are set to Outlines for the tracing result, then the expanded paths will be outlines only (rather than filled and stroked). In addition, a snapshot of the tracing with its current display options is preserved and grouped with the expanded paths. Use this method if you want to preserve the tracing image as a guide for the expanded paths.

    • To convert the tracing to a Live Paint object, click Live Paint in the Control panel or choose Object > Live Trace > Convert To Live Paint. Use this method if you want to apply fills and strokes to the traced artwork using the Live Paint Bucket tool.

To create a tracing and convert the tracing object in one step, choose Object > Live Trace > Make And Expand or Object > Live Trace > Make And Convert To Live Paint.

For a video on tracing, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0043.