Episode 2: How to Use the Autotrace Tool
Last time, we showed you how to build custom symbols into your Symbol Library. This episode covers one of canvasxdraw’s most popular features: Autotrace.
What Autotrace Does
Autotrace bridges the gap between raster and vector instantly. Feed it a photograph or any pixel-based image, and it automatically traces the image (or any channel within it) to generate a fully editable vector object built from clean polygons and shapes, sharp at any display size, no manual tracing required.
Watch: How to Use the Autotrace Tool
Quick Recap: Autotracing an Image
Prefer to skim before you watch? Here’s the step-by-step:
- Select your raster image. Any photograph or pixel-based image works.
- Go to Image > Autotrace. Choose the color and detail settings that fit your source image.
- Click OK. In a few seconds, canvasxdraw builds a vector object made up of polygons and shapes based on your image.
- Edit freely. The new vector object is fully editable and stays sharp at any size — resize it for a business card or a billboard without losing quality.
Why It’s Worth Using
Autotrace turns hours of manual tracing into a few seconds of setup. Whether you’re converting a scanned logo, turning a reference photo into clean line art, or prepping raster artwork for a project that needs scalable vectors, Autotrace gets you an editable starting point instantly — one you can refine with canvasxdraw’s full vector toolset from there.
Haven’t tried canvasxdraw yet? See what precision without compromise feels like.
This post is part of our canvasxdraw How-To video series. Have a feature you want us to cover next? Let us know.