Transforming bitmap into vector has always been a problem: softwares produced abomination filled with millions of points into paths. Never again!

Create a vector file from a picture draw has become easy thanks to two programs:
* Adobe Illustrator CS3 has a brand new LiveTrace with fully editable functions.
* Vector Magic s an online program created by J. Diebel and J.Norda from University of Stanfort that allows you to do everything via browser (supports Mozilla) and download the files in EPS, SVG and PNG.

Neither creates perfect files: both need to be corrected with Illustrator but are a valuable aid to the designer that has not much free time at work.

How it works?

With Vector Magic just follow step by step the 4 stages in the site. see screenshot

With Illustrator:
1) Open the drawing and you click on it with the default black pointer.
Into the top bar appears the LiveTrace button. Try the Preset Menù. Sometimes they are perfect for our case, depends on the type of artwork we want vectorized. I always choose Options Tracing and set myself.
2) You can choose how many colors to use, how small the area can be traced, if bypass the white (very useful), and finally we can see the Preview of our work. Once finished give the ok.
3) Click on Expand (top bar) or you will not be able to correct the file.
4) Proceed to the file revision. Simply delete some unnecessary parts (see spots around the mouth), and some paths are rough then smooth them with the Pen Tool or the Smooth Tool if you are fluid with a graphics tablet.

Please contact me via email if you find errors, I’m not smart with English