How to Change the Color of a Traced Image in Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a powerful vector graphics editing software that is widely used by designers and artists for creating stunning visuals. One of the key features of Illustrator is the ability to trace images, converting them into scalable vector graphics. However, once an image has been traced, you may want to change its color to better match your design. In this article, we will guide you through the process of changing the color of a traced image in Adobe Illustrator.
Step 1: Open the Traced Image in Illustrator
Begin by opening the traced image in Adobe Illustrator. You can do this by going to File > Open and selecting the image file you want to work with. Once the image is opened, you will see it displayed on the artboard.
Step 2: Select the Traced Image
Next, use the Selection Tool (V) to click on the traced image and select it. This will allow you to make changes to the image, including its color.
Step 3: Access the Image Trace Panel
With the traced image selected, go to the Window menu and select Image Trace to open the Image Trace panel. This panel is where you can adjust the settings for the traced image, including changing its color.
Step 4: Expand the Traced Image
Before you can change the color of the traced image, you need to expand it. To do this, click the “Expand” button in the control panel at the top of the screen. This will convert the traced image into editable vector paths.
Step 5: Change the Color
Once the traced image is expanded, you can change its color using the Fill and Stroke options in the toolbar. You can choose a new fill color by selecting a color from the Swatches panel or using the color picker tool. Similarly, you can change the stroke color if the image has any outlines or strokes.
Step 6: Edit the Color with Recolor Artwork
If you want to further refine the color of the traced image, you can use the Recolor Artwork feature in Illustrator. To access this, select the traced image and then go to Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork. This will open a panel where you can adjust the colors of the image using various controls such as sliders and color wheels.
Step 7: Save Your Changes
Once you are satisfied with the new color of the traced image, make sure to save your file to preserve the changes. You can do this by going to File > Save or File > Save As to create a new file with the updated image.
In conclusion, Adobe Illustrator makes it easy to change the color of a traced image using its powerful vector editing tools. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can effortlessly modify the color of any traced image to suit your design needs. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, mastering the art of changing image colors in Illustrator can greatly enhance your design capabilities.
